The Scarlet Dagger (The Red Sector Chronicles, #1) (14 page)

Aden stepped around the corner the moment I cleared the stairwell. “There you are. Hey, come and eat. Mom’s made steak tonight.”

I followed him to the dining room and my eyes bulged. There was enough food to feed a small army. Every inch of the dining room table was covered in plates piled high with buttered rolls, salad, vegetables, deserts, and a variety of appetizers. Three places were set, already bearing the biggest steaks I had ever seen. A pitcher of what appeared to be iced tea and lemon sat on the table.

“
I hope you’re hungry,” Mrs. Knight said, tucking cotton napkins beneath our silverware.

“
It looks great,” I said half-heartedly. Though I was hungry, I wasn’t able to muster much enthusiasm, and my nerves pulled at my resolve as I approached the table.

What the hell is wrong with me? It’s just dinner, not like I’m going into the Red Sector all over again.

Aden pulled out a chair for me and I gave him an odd look. “What are you, from the 1800’s?”

“
Actually, my mom and I have only been vampires for little under two years now.” He took the seat beside mine and winked. “I just thought it might help my cause.”

“
Well, try all you like, but I’m not going to change my mind.” I tried to unfold my napkin across my lap, but my fingers didn’t seem to remember how to work when he was looking at me like that.

His mother sat across from me, at the other head of the table. She clasped her hands and bowed her head, at which I did the same. After she blessed the meal, we filled our plates with even more food. It smelled amazing and tasted as good as it looked. I wolfed it down like I hadn’t eaten in months.

I was unable to keep my eyes from wandering toward Aden, not so much for his looks as for his sudden change in demeanor. He acted totally different around his mother, an enchanting stranger compared to the serious persona he portrayed as Captain Knight.

Mrs. Knight and Aden made light conversation, laughing and joking with one another. Their laughter was like a dagger cutting into my heart. Watching them reminded too much of my father and my brother, how we used to have dinners like this when I was young.

Back before my mother and the Eclipse destroyed our lives.

“
So Sloane,” Mrs. Knight said, turning her attention to me. I gripped my crystal glass a little harder, bracing myself. “What grade are you in?”

“
I’m a senior. Was a senior,” I answered tightly.

She raised her brows, a small smile on her lips, and looked at Aden, who merely rolled his eyes. “The same grade level as Aden. That’s nice.”

I wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean, so I popped another forkful of salad into my mouth.

“
Were you thinking about going to college?” she asked politely.

I nearly choked. College? She was joking, right? Judging from my current situation, I didn’t see how that was going to be possible even if I did want to go, which I wasn’t sure about to begin with. “What’s the point in thinking about it now?”

Her fork froze midair. Aden watched me, a wary look on his face. “I mean, college isn’t always the best choice for everyone,” she said carefully, as if trying to calm a wild horse. “I know some would rather go to a technical school, or just join the workforce.”

I stared at my plate, my mouth a tight, thin line. “None of that matters anymore. I couldn’t go to school even if I wanted to now.”

“
Not the case,” Aden said. “There are vampires that live above the surface, blending in and going about their lives as if they were human. It’s tricky, of course. Though we don’t sparkle in sunlight” – he said this with a snort – “we can literally burst into flames if we’re exposed to too much of it, so most vampires have to take graveyard shifts, or go to night or online classes.”

I set down my fork somewhat forcefully, dropping my eyes. “So what you’re telling me is I’ll never be able to lead a normal life.”

Aden and his mother paused, uneasy. “You could lead one here. With us… with me,” he said hopefully.

My head snapped up, flames blazing in my eyes. “I don’t want you! I never asked for any of this!”

Hurt flashed across Aden’s eyes, but his mother was the one who answered. “None of us wanted this,” she said gently. “But we’re managing the best we can. It’s all we can do.”

I turned on her. “You at least have each other” – I pointed between them – “which is more than I have.” I rose from my seat, embarrassed at the way I was behaving but unable to stop myself. “Sorry, but I’ve lost my appetite.”

“
All right,” Mrs. Knight said, her voice warbling as she stood. “I’ll fix a tray up for you and send it up –”

“
I don’t want any more of your fucking courtesy!”

Aden flew out of his chair so hard it fell over. He jerked me by the arm. “You’re done.”

I didn’t struggle as he led me from the room; I was too shocked from my behavior for that. Right before we turned the corner, I looked back, seeing tears welling in Mrs. Knight’s eyes.

Aden didn’t slow when we hit the stairs. I probably would have been dragged if I wasn’t a vampire and could match his speed.

He threw open my door, shoving me inside. “What the hell is your problem?”

I was too ashamed to meet his eyes. Mrs. Knight had been nothing but kind to me. Why had I said something like that?

Because you’re hurting, and you wanted her to hurt, too.

“
I don’t know,” I said weakly.

His hands were all over the place, gripping his jeans, his shirt, running through his hair. I wondered if I should be worried about him hitting me.

“
I know what you’re going through. Believe me, I’ve been there. But your life wasn’t the only one that was shit on. Nobody is prepared to become a vampire. There aren’t any guidebooks on it, no clues to help you out. But I’m here. My mother, Paris, Rook, Angel, we’re all here to help you, which is a hell of a lot more than the rest of us had coming in. So stop acting like the world owes you something.”

His words stung. Deep down, I knew he was right. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, face burning. “I’m so terribly sorry for the things I said. I just –” I bit my tongue. Why was I apologizing to him, of all people? He ruined my life.

Still, you had no right saying those things to Mrs. Knight.

I felt terrible for that. My knees shook and I started to crumple to the floor, but Aden caught me, lowering me until we were both on the carpet, his arms wrapped tightly around me.

I held back my tears. Crying never did me any good, and there was no way I was going to bawl like a baby in front of him. I wriggled out of his grasp, leaning against the couch. Something popped into my mind. “Why didn’t you tell Frost about me? She’s your commanding officer.”

Aden looked startled by my question, and almost instantaneously, his Captain mask dropped back into place, cold and distant. “I didn’t have time,” he said simply, rising. He offered me his hand and this time I took it, more questions dancing along my tongue.

I searched his eyes. “You’re hiding something from me.”

His mouth turned up into a sardonic smile. “Me, keep secrets? Never.”

Then without another word, he walked out of the room.

Chapter
10

I immediately knew I was dreaming because my twin was there.

It was Halloween three years ago. Orion got out of the car, dressed as Jerry Springer, and grinned at me. “Come on, Sloane. Don’t be a chickenshit. This
was
your idea.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, but returned his smile as I climbed out of Rook’s black 1985 Camaro, flaunting a leather mini skirt as Batgirl.

At sixteen – a full two years older than Orion and me – Rook was the only one who actually had a car and a driver’s license, which meant he usually ended up playing “chauffeur.” Dad had given my brother and me a few driving lessons, taking us to empty parking lots to practice when he had a weekend off (which was rare, since his schedule at the factory alternated between day and night shifts). But it would still be a while before either of us could get a license, and probably even longer before we could afford a car.

I walked up to Orion and Rook (who was dressed as a zombie hockey player). The old house loomed before us, looking grey and ominous with its boarded up windows and NO TRESPASSING signs. Since the house was in the middle of nowhere, we didn’t bother locking the doors. Rook even left the keys in the ignition.

“
Scared, sis?” Orion asked.

“
Yeah, right.” I gave him a light shove. “I’m just here to make sure you actually follow through with my dare.”

Part of me was a little spooked of going inside the abandoned Miller Mansion, especially with the lore surrounding it. According to the local papers, a family was found mysteriously murdered there in the late 1800’s. Occult activity was suspected, as their wrists and throats had been slit, and the bodies had been nearly completely drained of blood. The killer (or killers) was never found, and the case remained open to this day.

I completely loved anything spooky. Halloween was my favorite holiday, and we always made a point to do something “Mystery Inc.ish,” like ghost hunting. This year, I had dared my brother to go inside the Miller Mansion and bring back something of Mrs. Miller’s, who they found clutching the butcher knife they suspected she’d used to kill the rest of her family before killing herself. We’d rounded up Rook and left Kate’s costume party shortly before midnight to come here. My skin tingled with excitement, but also something else, almost like a warning.

I kept my reservations to myself, not wanting to look like a wuss in front of the guys, especially Orion. He’d never let me live it down.

I frowned slightly.
Too bad Leo couldn’t make it out. He would have loved this.
When I had phoned him up earlier, he had declined, saying he had the flu (judging from the sound of his voice, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near him). I promised to tell him all about it when I saw him at school.

My brother and Rook had already started toward the house. “Come on, Batgirl,” Orion called. He and Rook were already disappearing in the shadows that ran alongside the house. I giggled and followed after them.

We walked around the side to the backdoor, which was secured with a padlock as thick as my forearm. “How are we supposed to get in?” I asked, examining it. It looked new. I bet we weren’t the only ones seeking a cheap thrill around this time of year, and the city had updated the locks, wanting to keep it as secure as possible. The place was one of Pittsburgh’s “historical monuments,” and we could definitely get into big trouble if we were caught trespassing.

Orion whipped out a flashlight and shone the beam on the ground. “‘Oh ye, of little faith.’” He pushed aside the weeds, revealing a set of old wooden doors. They were also locked, but the lock looked ancient. It was coated in so much rust that it was a burnt orange color, unlike the shiny silver of the other lock. Orion reached into his duffel bag and pulled out Dad’s bolt-cutters.

I laughed. “Dad would kill us.”

“
He doesn’t have to know,” Orion said, snapping the bolt off with little effort. He tossed it aside and pulled the doors open. Stale air rushed up and we all gagged.

“
Whoa,” Rook said, covering his mouth with his arm. “Smells like something died.”

Orion wrinkled his nose. “Probably just an animal.”

A bolt of fear surged through me as I took in the decay coating the air. I wanted to run but I was helpless, trapped inside the other Sloane’s body as she pasted on a bold grin and climbed down the ladder into the basement, covering her nose and mouth with her hand.

It’s like I was there but wasn’t there, a bystander watching the events unfold through 14-year-old Sloane’s mind. This wasn’t simply a dream – it was a memory.

I screamed at her to turn around while she still could, but she took a flashlight from her utility belt as the others joined her/me.

More flashlights flipped on. “Oh, sweet! Check this out.” Rook pointed to a shelf lined with containers. We all shuffled closer to examine them. Most had some sort of liquid in them, though it was too opaque to see much of what was inside. I shined my flashlight on one, and something long and bloated drifted past the edge of the light.

“
Oh my God,” I said. “Is that a finger?”

“
No freakin’ way!” Orion leaned forward, completely engrossed in my find. I tilted my head ever so slightly, catching Rook’s eye, and winked.

Taking my cue, Rook snuck up behind Orion and grabbed him by the shoulders, screaming into his ear.

Orion leaped about two feet in the air, nearly knocking over the shelves in the process. He rounded on Rook and punched him in the arm so hard he staggered a bit. “You think that was funny, smartass?!” Orion yelled, clenching his fists. His normally mischievous smile was gone, and his eyes had gone steely. I recognized the look on his face, the same craving for bloodshed I saw him get whenever he got into a fight. As much as I loved my brother, I hated the darker side of him, like when we were growing up, how he’d pull off butterfly wings because he thought it was funny, or said disturbing things like, “Wouldn’t it fun to drown Ms. Allerby’s cat? Then it wouldn’t use our yard for a litter box anymore.”