Dark Rapture (7 page)

Chapter Six

“I’m going to pick up my stuff and head home, guys.”

Scarlet tossed the screwdriver into the toolbox and readjusted the curtains she had just hung. The filmy white sheers did little for the majestic interior of the second floor hallway, but they had been on sale, and actually fit the tall, narrow windows that stretched along the upper hall. Until Vince got around to getting some custom-made drapes for the odd-sized windows, these would do.

“It’s starting to rain again and I have a terrible feeling that I left the screen door open to the patio.”

Gary and Vince were laying down a path of red carpeting on the newly reinforced stairs. Vince’s great-grandfather had left a small amount in trust for him, but after getting appraisals from the remodelers, Vince decided that they would do as much of the work as possible. He let the professionals take care of the major construction work, such as redoing the stairway and the roof. Now, a week and a half later, all that was left was to scrub the dirt from every corner of the place and paint. A monumental job in itself.

“I think we’re almost done, too.” Gary pounded another nail into the oak steps. “Not much daylight left, and until Einstein here remembers to pick up some light bulbs, we’re finished.”

“I don’t recall seeing a list that said that was
my
specific i job,” Vince said.

Scarlet stepped over Gary’s arm, avoiding the toolbox at the bottom of the steps. “I’ll see you guys later.”

She smiled to herself as she walked down the hall. Vince was such a character. Such a
lovable
character. She wondered if maybe she should have waited, and chosen him over Sebastian. Well, a girl didn't have to be exclusive so quickly. She'd keep her options open.

***

Vince pressed his hands into the carpet and pushed the thick red material against the stairs so Gary could pound in another nail. “Catch you later, Scarlet—Oww!”

“Oh, man, did I get you?” Gary dropped the hammer and searched for blood on the carpet.

Pushing his head against the step, Vince moaned. “No, don’t worry, it’ll pass.”

Another one of his attacks. Gary looked down the steps; only two left. “Why don’t you relax. I can finish this.”

Vince rolled over and stretched his long legs out across the stairs. “Are you sure?”

Gary jammed the toe of his tennis shoe into the carpet, pushing it tight against the stair. “Yeah, go sit down.”

“I think I’ll stay here for now. Besides, there’s no place to sit.” Vince looked up at the arched ceiling supported by thick wooden beams and closed his eyes. His mouth pulled tight. He winced each time the hammer hit its mark. “We have to pick up some furniture one of these days.”

“Almost done,” Gary said. “You going to make it?”

“Yeah, it’s almost gone. I’m glad this never happens when I’m on stage.”

“You’ve been lucky.” One more nail and the job was done. Gary looked over the aisle of red carpeting. Fit for a king, he thought with satisfaction, as his eyes traveled back down to his friend spread out across the bottom steps. “Looks pretty good, I must say. We’re quite the handymen.”

Vince rolled over and picked at a bent nail pounded deeply into the carpeting. He laughed now, the pain subsiding. “Don’t get your hopes up man, stick to playing guitar. I don’t think anybody is ever going to pay you for your carpentry skills.”

“Yeah, but you must admit it’s not bad for a beginner.”

“Kudos to you.” Vince stood and clapped. “Hey, let’s check out the vault before we go. I brought a flashlight.”

Gary smoothed his hand across the carpet and shook his head in pride. “Sure man, let’s go.”

***

The jeep sputtered, and with one last ailing breath, the engine gave up and the vehicle rolled to a halt. Scarlet looked out the foggy windshield. It was raining in sheets, pummeling the hissing vehicle, muffling the sounds of the exhausted engine. She turned the key repeatedly, thumping the gas pedal, but to no avail.

She smeared away a clear spot on the windshield. Her house was close, just a dozen or more blocks. Why did this have to happen when it was raining?

“That’s the last time I buy a car from a junkyard,” she muttered.

Through the downpour, she could see Sebastian’s house out the passenger corner of the windshield. An inviting glow from the porch light beckoned her.

Now, what to do?

She didn’t want to go to his house after what had happened last week. Though it was nearly healed, the cut on her forehead still stung whenever she thought of him. But, perhaps if she used the phone, and then left immediately, things would be okay. Maybe she could even talk to him, find out what was wrong, and why he hadn’t called her. Since receiving the roses she hadn’t heard from him.

Muddling the decision over, she cursed the vehicle, watching helplessly as the rain puddled in the darkened streets. Walking did not appeal. Besides, she had already made that trek once and she was damned if she was going to do it again, especially in this horrid weather.

But was she ready to enter Sebastian’s lair again?

She tapped the steering wheel to the beat of the rain and reasoned with herself.
He does deserve a second chance.
Gary had been surprised to see that she hadn’t tossed the roses out.

“I thought you didn’t want to have anything to do with him?’ he had yelled.

She
had
said that to her brother. But there was something about Sebastian. It was hard to stay angry with him. Even now, as she rubbed the disappearing scar on her forehead, she tried to think of one good reason why she shouldn’t give him another chance. His kisses were not one of them.

Swiping at the moisture on the window again, she decided to make a run for it. Scarlet stepped out of the Jeep, her feet sinking into a puddle. She groaned as the cold water poured into her suede flats. The air smelled of fresh grass and the bewitching glow from Sebastian’s porch light beckoned again.

She sprinted toward his house, stopping mid-puddle to pull off her ruined shoes. Halfway through his yard she was completely soaked, her cotton dress clinging to her body like a wet paper towel. Once on the porch, her finger slipped on the door bell, and she was surprised when the door pushed open easily.

Moonlight washed across the kitchen floor, leading her eyes further in.

“Sebastian?” she called quietly, feeling guilty at having opened his door and even more guilty when she stepped inside, closing it behind her.

Cool water puddled at her feet as Scarlet scanned the room, listening intently for signs of the house’s inhabitant. Though she knew this was wrong, the feeling that Sebastian wouldn’t want her standing out in the rain reassured her, and she stepped across the kitchen floor.

Shaking off a shiver, she brushed water from her arms and then, noticing the mess she was making on the floor, tiptoed to the sink to get a towel. She wiped up the puddle, following her trail to the center of the kitchen on her knees. She stopped when she came upon something that wasn’t rain.

Curiosity urged her to dip her finger into the bubble of red liquid on the floor. She rubbed it between her fingers, wondering what it was. Sniffing, she didn’t recognize the faint metallic odor—and then it hit her.

“Oh, my God, this is blood. Sebastian must be hurt.”

Leaving the towel on the floor, Scarlet stood and looked up the stairs where she knew his bedroom was. That had to be the reason for his not answering the door. If he was hurt, he might be lying somewhere, bleeding.

“Sebastian! Sebastian?” she called as she ran up the stairs, but she stopped mid-dash.

"Mon dieu!
What is going on?” Sebastian’s voice boomed as he hustled down the stairs, his silk pajama bottoms ruffing against each other as he took the steps two at a time.

Scarlet shrank down the steps and across the floor, feeling her spine meld against the cool facade of the refrigerator as he approached her. A wildness flashed in his eyes, but within seconds, he regained his gentle composure and went to her, cupping her chin in his hand.

“Are you all right, Sebastian?”

His eyebrow quirked. It was obvious he had no idea of her worries. “What? Yes, I’m fine. Why are you here,
cherie?"

He was so close she could see his temples pounding. But there was no blood that would explain the drops on the floor.

Scarlet held out her hand and displayed her red fingertips. “The blood. I thought you were hurt.”

As if she wielded a dagger instead of her bare hand, Sebastian backed away, releasing his gentle grasp on her.

“It was on the floor, Sebastian. Don’t worry, it’s not from me. What’s going on?”

He looked up and down her shaking body, though it seemed to Scarlet that he was trying to get as far away from her as possible, his eyes wide with…fear?
As if she would
try to hurt him.
What was he afraid of?

Remembering his actions last week, she eyed the door. He’d flipped out once; he could do it again.

“Maybe I should leave. My car stalled, but if I you’re not feeling well again—”

“Scarlet, you must forgive me for the other night,” he whispered urgently. “I was not myself. Like you said, I wasn’t feeling well.”

“That’s what I thought.” Strange reaction to being sick, wasn't it? Nearly raping someone
?
“I forgive you, Sebas—”

She stopped abruptly upon seeing his body tense and then relax immediately as if a tremor of pain had rippled through him. “Are you all right? Are you still sick?”

He lowered his head, twisting it from side to side as if to wring out a stitch in his neck. “I’m fine,” he whispered breathlessly. “Do not be concerned,
s'il vous plait.
I should get you something to dry off—”

“Sebastian.” A sleepy female voice interrupted from the top of the stairs directly above where they were standing. “Sebastian, come back.”

Scarlet craned her neck to look up and over her shoulder toward the voice, and saw a hand sliding down the railing and wisps of silky red material floating in and about the twisted wooden railing.

She felt a painful twinge of jealousy. “I’m sorry if I—”

Sebastian jerked his gaze toward the voice and his dark eyes glimmered. “No! Go back!”

In a flash, she felt his arms around her waist as she was pushed against the wall and pinned tightly against it. Twisting to get a better view, she saw a woman clad in a flowing silk robe slowly stepping down the stairs, her eyes trapped in an inanimate gaze. Just then, Sebastian’s hair fell in front of Scarlet’s face blocking her view, and she struggled to free herself.

Why is he acting this way? What’s going on and why doesn’t he want me to see her?

Scarlet pulled far enough away from Sebastian to get a good look at the woman’s face. She gasped as the girl stopped at the bottom step and turned toward them. Her eyes were utterly blank as she stared at the wall directly behind Scarlet and Sebastian.

And then Scarlet noticed her neck. She’d been cut. A stream of blood was pumping slowly from an indiscernible wound on her neck.

What was going on? Had Sebastian hurt her? Why wasn’t he helping her?

Terrified, Scarlet began struggling, pushing against his hard body in an attempt to move him away. But Sebastian maintained his position, holding her firmly against the wall.

“Go back,” he whispered violently, and the girl responded by returning soundlessly up the steps.

Once again, he bent at the waist, twisting and straining against some unknown pain, though his grasp on her arms remained iron tight. Scarlet couldn’t budge and could barely breathe as he rested his body weight against her. She strained to see the expression on his lowered face. What was wrong with him?

He stood straight, and his stone black eyes flashed with anger, as if she’d somehow been the cause for the woman’s injuries.

“You won’t tell a soul what you’ve seen,” he commanded in a new voice of authority that she’d never heard before. He was as regal as a prince as he towered over her, and at the same time, an evil monster threatening her very existence.

“What’s wrong with her? She might need a doctor.” Her voice was high, almost hysterical. “Sebastian, what’s going on?”

“You needn’t worry. She will be fine by the morning.”

Twisting her wrists in his hands as hot tears rolled down her face, Scarlet begged “I’ve got to go now, please, let go of me.”

“Not until you promise you will tell no one.” Another shock wave shuddered through Sebastian’s body and he released his grip on her wrists. He turned away, clutching at his stomach, but peered over his shoulder to keep an eye on her.

Scarlet rubbed at her bruised wrists and looked outside. Sebastian stood between her and the door, otherwise she might have made a run for it.

“I promise I won’t tell, but I don’t even know what’s going on.”

Her tears mixed with the rain still dripping from her hair. She wanted to get out of this house of horrors, but the Rose curiosity held her to her ground. She needed answers before she could leave.