The Scarlet Dagger (The Red Sector Chronicles, #1) (13 page)

I sighed. “I know. Don’t worry. I have no desire to be electrocuted any time soon. I’ll be an angel and stay inside like a good prisoner.”

He suppressed a laugh and opened the door, stepping inside.

I hesitated on the landing, staring into the darkness that was to be my prison. Once I went in, there would be no going back. But honestly, where would I go at this point? I had no idea how to get out of here, let alone how to find my way to the surface.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The anklet beeped, and I heard it hum to life as I walked into the foyer. It was pitch black and silent; I wondered where Aden had gone.

Hopefully to turn on some lights. I can’t see a thing.

Even with enhanced vision, it still took my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the darkness. I could make out the outline of furniture, but no light hinted at anything else, as there weren’t any windows. The walls were barren, save for a few framed paintings and some unlit lamps.

“
Aden?” I called, but no one answered. Annoyed he had just abandoned me, I took a step farther into the darkness, hearing a board creak behind me about the time I registered an unfamiliar signature.

Fingers dug into my shoulder without warning. I yelped and spun around as I made a fist, ready to lay out whoever had grabbed me.

Chapter 9

Everything moved in slow motion. As I spun, my eyes widened, taking in what appeared to be a younger version of Martha Stewart. The woman had immaculately styled platinum blond hair, which was held back by a broad white head band, and a warm face with petite features.

Features I was seriously about to damage.

She was too close, and I couldn’t stop. My jaw slowly dropped in horror as her smile vanished, replaced by alarm as she registered what I was about to do.

Oh God
.

I tried pulling back but it was too late.

Less than three inches until impact, Aden shoved the woman out of the way, and my fist firmly connected with his jaw. He stumbled from the blow and swore.

I cupped my hands over my mouth in horror, apologies streaming from my lips in a frantic blur.

Aden gave me an icy glare before the woman broke the awkward silence. “Hi, Sloane,” she said, smiling sweetly, as if I hadn’t just tried to deck her. Her voice was light and airy, as dainty as her appearance. “I’m Rose Knight, Aden’s mother.”

I blinked in surprise. Aden lived with his mom? A quick scan of her signature told me she was also a vampire. Staring at her, I saw where Aden had inherited his pale features.

“
It’s so nice to finally meet you,” she said. “You’ve been all Aden could talk about.”

“
Mom,” Aden groaned, sounding much more like a teenager.

I flushed, surprised, but kept my face impassive as she extended her hand and I tentatively shook it.

She smiled sheepishly. “I apologize for frightening you. You must have had a long day. No one can blame you for being a little, well, ‘edgy.’”

I wanted to laugh.
“Edgy” doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling right now.

I just nodded, not quite meeting her eyes, and she hastily ushered Aden forward. “Well, I’m sure you’re tired. Aden, dear, won’t you show Sloane to her room?” She took my hands and squeezed them. “Please treat our home as your own.”

“
Thanks,” I mumbled, taken aback by her kindness.

Mrs. Knight looked at her son and shook her head. “I’ll fetch you an ice pack and some aspirin.” She smiled at me one last time before walking off.

“
Well,” Aden said. “That went well.” The words sounded funny, because he was trying to talk without moving his mouth much. He looked at me pointedly and I crossed my arms, refusing to look at him as my face burned. He made what sounded like a low growl in his throat and then started up the stairs, motioning for me to follow.

The townhouse was much bigger than it looked from the outside – the interior stretched far into the earth, making it seem impossibly long compared to the tiny apartment you saw from the street. The stairwell curled into the expansive second floor, depositing us into a carpeted hallway lined with a few doors. Elaborate crystal sconces dotted the walls, lighting the way. As on the ground level, there weren’t any hanging photographs, only paintings and other artwork. We passed a few doors before Aden threw one open, spilling warm, orange light into the hall.

“
Your room’s right across from the bathroom,” he said, stepping aside. “Unfortunately, there’s only one on this floor, so you’ll be sharing it with me.”

I walked past him into the room, and my jaw dropped.

It was huge. I wagered I could have fit my entire bedroom from back home and then some in it. The floor was covered in the same thick, white carpet as the other rooms, and the walls were painted a beautiful deep plum. The ceiling was comprised of fancy lacework tiles, and three amber-colored lamps of varying lengths dripped from the center, suspended on cables that resembled black ivy.

All the furniture was black, and everything in the room coordinated. On one wall was a massive king-sized bed with black and gold-flecked wrought iron railings. The comforter was quilted violet silk that dragged the floor, and a mountain of fancy pillows of different shapes was piled against the headboard. Directly across from the bed was a luxurious black leather couch, a coffee table, and on the parallel wall, the biggest flat-screen TV I had ever seen, complete with a Blue-ray player and a black mini-fridge. A desk and a book case sat in the corner beside a set of French doors I assumed was a closet. The thing that surprised me the most was the window, more of a decorative accent than for anything else. (I mean really, what could you watch from it? The non-existent birds?) It was fairly large, fitted with a bookshelf and a large window seat with plum colored upholstery. It looked like the perfect spot to curl up and read a book.

“
Do you like it?” Aden asked, coming up beside me. He almost sounded nervous.

“
It’s beautiful,” I breathed, and I meant it. It was the most gorgeous room I had ever seen.

“
Cool,” he replied awkwardly.

I giggled, and he quirked a brow. “What’s so funny?”

I shook my head with a small smile. “Nothing. It’s just kind of odd hearing you say something so…”

“
Normal?”

“
Casual,” I offered, studying him. “You feel at home here, like you can be yourself. I can tell you’re more relaxed. You don’t have to wear the Captain’s mask around your mom.”

He looked… stunned. We stared at each other for a few long seconds, tension tightening in the room, before he cleared his throat and looked away. “By the way, feel free to make it your own. My mom was taking a shot in the dark when she designed it for you.”

“
Your mom designed this?”

“
Yeah, she’s an interior designer. She used to work for a design agency.”

Before she became a vampire,
I finished. I looked around again, still unable to believe that all the beauty around me was mine.

“
Oh, and check this out.” Aden walked across the room to the French doors. “We got a few things for you to wear. My mom says she’ll take you shopping sometime later when you’re able to leave the apartment.”

I opened the door and flipped on the light. At first, I thought it was the smallest closet ever. Then I looked to my right and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. The closet ran behind the entire length of the TV wall, lined with racks, cubbies for shoes, and drawers. For the most part, the racks were empty, save for a few pairs of jeans and some plain shirts.

“
All this” – I motioned around the room – “is for me?”

Aden nodded. “Yep. If you don’t like the color –”

“
It’s amazing. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Mrs. Knight’s voice floated up the stairs. “Guess I’ll go claim that aspirin,” Aden said. “There are clean towels in the bathroom if you want to shower.” He turned to leave.

“
Hey,” I said.

He paused, quirking a brow in that quizzical way of his.

“
Sorry I punched you in the face,” I mumbled, shifting my weight.

He tried to grin and then winced, touching his jaw. It was swollen, but I could tell it was already starting to heal. As he looked at me, something in his eyes shifted. “You can make it up to me.”

My brows furrowed.

He walked back, stopping a few inches in front of me. “Go on a date with me.”

I blinked in surprise. That wasn’t what I had expected him to say. “I just punched you in the face, and you want to go out with me?”

“
Eh, it’s all relative. The way I see it, it’s not every day I find a girl who can kick my ass. It’s kind of hot.” The non-bruised side of his face lifted into a wry smile.

I flushed. No one had ever called me “hot” before. My best friends were a bunch of guys, and they treated me like one of the boys. Then again, “hot” wasn’t exactly a compliment in my book. It usually meant “bang-able,” not exactly something a respectable girl wanted to be called.

“
So what do you think?” he asked softly.

“
No.”

“
No?”

I firmly shook my head. “No way. Not in your wildest dreams.”

The look on his face said he clearly wasn’t used to being blown off. His eyes held mine as he reached up to cradle my cheek. “Then I guess I’ll have to change your mind.”

I swatted his hand away and turned around before he could see me blush anymore. He chuckled, and I was afraid he’d push the topic but a few seconds later I heard the door close.

My heart beat wildly. What was the matter with me? This was the guy who ruined my life, so shouldn’t I hate him? I tried to make sense of my feelings.

“
All right, sure,” I said to myself, pacing. “You’re attracted to him. It’s perfectly natural. He’s handsome, he’s surprisingly sweet, he’s…”

He had been very kind to me, which was the exact opposite of the picture the government and my memories had painted for us. Vampires should be wild, feral creatures whose sole purpose was to prey on humans. But Aden and his mother, Paris, Rook and Angel, this place… they seemed normal, almost human, with the exception of the charming General Frost.

I groaned and rubbed my eyes, more confused than when I’d started.

As much as I wanted to just plop down on the bed and crash, my desire to be clean was greater. I decided to rummage through the closet, selecting a pair of faded jeans and a black T-shirt before heading to the bathroom.

One thing was for certain: Mrs. Knight was amazing at her job. The bathroom was also massive, with his and her sinks, a shower, a rack for your clothes and wet towels, and a giant old fashioned, clawfoot bathtub. The walls were a cool ice blue, and the floor was covered in blue and white tiles. All the fixtures were silver, and a hanging lamp pooled light onto the tub. The countertops were marbleized grey. Someone had already laid out shampoo, conditioner, and a razor alongside a fluffy white towel. I snatched them up and turned on the hot water in the shower, wondering where they got their water supply from. They probably drilled into the surface sewage system, similar to how they leeched off our electricity.

I stripped out of the uniform and gingerly climbed into the shower. Maybe it was because I’d been through hell the past few days, but for whatever reason it was the best shower I’ve ever had. I lingered in the steam, feeling my muscles begin to relax as the water poured over my body.

I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want to feel. For once since my life turned upside down, I just wanted to be alone and “not be.” It was the only way I knew to keep myself glued together.

Water poured across my birthmark. I stood there, staring at it without blinking, lost in fractured memories. Every time I took a shower – every glimpse of that forget-me-knot – made me think of Orion. I couldn’t help it. It was always there, ready to remind me of my betrayal.

Hot tears stung my eyes, and I took a deep breath.
Easy there, Sloane. You have to keep it together. You have to be strong, for Leo.

I let out my breath, slowly, feeling myself calm down. “For Leo,” I said with a nod.

I emerged from the shower a full forty-five minutes later. Heat radiated off my skin as I dressed and combed out my hair, feeling more relaxed than I had in days. It felt strange to wear normal clothes again. Since my mother had become Sovereign, my casual wear had consisted of a nice skirt or slacks and a blouse. The jeans and plain T-shirt were like precious gifts, and I relished the freedom I felt in them.

Someone knocked. “Come in,” I called.

Aden poked his head in, wafting away steam. “Hey, my mom wanted me to ask if you’d like to join us for dinner.”

Wonderful smells wafted through the door, and I licked my lips. “Sure. I’ll be down in a second.”

He left and I hesitated, fussing with my hair. Some part of me didn’t quite want to go downstairs, and I wasn’t really sure why. Could it be my unspoken grudge against Aden? I didn’t know, and I debated about whether or not I should just skip dinner and stay in my room. My stomach growled, and I glared at it. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until he had mentioned food, and after stalling for a few more minutes I hauled myself downstairs.