The Black Rose Chronicles: Deceit and Lies

by Michaels, A K

  “Going to my bed was part of this plan?” His heart ached in ways he couldn’t describe, pain lancing through it at the thought of her deceit.

  “Absolutely not. I’ve never slept with a target, never, not once.”

  “I’m to believe that?” Cassius asked coldly.

  “Believe it or not, I can’t make you think one thing or the other.” Her eyes lifted to his, tears sparkling as she shook her head. “I’ve seen who you are, Cassius. I’ve seen that what we were told was a lie. You’re not the person we were assigned to take out. You are so far from that person it’s . . .”

  “Stop.” His mind slowly began to work again. “We? You said we? Who the fuck else have you got here?”

  “I don’t take anyone else with me on a mission. I work alone, but the man I live with…”

  Again, he stopped her, his voice even colder. “The man you live with? For fuck’s sake. You live with someone? Does he know you’ve been in my bed? Does he know what we’ve done?”

  She started to shake as his voice rose, her head shaking back and forth as his words hit their target.

  “No, no, no, no! He’s not my soul-mate. I’ve lived with him for years when my dad took me to him to protect me when they took my mo—”

  She stopped talking, her hand flying to her mouth as she realized what she’d said. Cassius pounced. “When who took your mother? The hunters? Your mother was a Witch, wasn’t she?”

  Rose didn’t answer, shock, fear, and so many other emotions rolled over her face. Cassius roared at her viciously, “Tell me!”

  “Yes,” she gasped as the tears started to fall. “I was a child when we were sent away from the Pack. The Alpha was scared because Mom was a Witch. We only lasted a little while before they came for her. That night she managed to hide me, and my dad took me away to his friend’s for safety. I stayed there while Dad looked for Mom.”

  “Go on,” Cassius prodded.

  “His friend looked after me, but when it was obvious Dad wasn’t coming back any time soon, he started to train me. I’ve been training since I was eight, and Dad only visited rarely, in case he brought the hunters.” Rose sighed, sitting back and pulling her feet up onto the sofa, her arms wrapped around her knees. “He found out she was dead and who’d done it. He swore he was going to hunt them down and kill them, but I begged him not to.”

  She paused, taking a deep breath as Cassius whispered, “Why?”

  Her tortured eyes rose to his. “Because I wanted to be the one to kill them. I hated them and I had to make them suffer for what they’d done.”

  “Your father agreed to this?”

  “Yes, but only after a lot of pleading from me.” Rose shrugged. “I told him I would refuse to see him ever again if he didn’t agree.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “I kept on training, harder and harder, every single day, and I didn’t complain. Well, not much, because I knew I’d need to be strong to kill the fuckers who’d taken Mom.”

  “And did you?” Cassius asked, even though he was certain of the answer.

  “Yes.” She nodded. “It was my eighteenth birthday present to myself.”

  “My god, you started killing when you were eighteen?” Cassius couldn’t hide the shock from his voice, and saw her flinch.

  “Yes, and I’d do it again.” Her eyes fiery as she faced him. “They’d killed many more by then, but they suffered, and I felt glad. Glad that I’d killed them and glad that I had the power to make them suffer.”

  “That’s not something any girl should have to do.” Cassius couldn’t help the compassion from leaking into his voice. He’d seen death too many times to know that it affects anyone who deals in it.

  “No, I suppose not, but she was a Witch and that’s what happened. I couldn’t change it. All I could do was try to live in a world that was full of death, corruption, and hatred.”

  “What happened to turn you into The Black Rose?”

  “After I’d dealt with everyone involved with my mom, I found I’d already gotten a reputation. I also realized that there were far too many out there doing unspeakable things, so I decided to do something about that.” She sighed, her shoulders drooping down. “At first, it was people I’d come across when out on a supply run, but my reputation started to grow, and soon the Council was asking me to take on jobs. As I said earlier, nothing was ever done without research, and everyone was extremely deserving of my little brand of assassination. It felt good when I knew I’d taken out someone who was carrying out horrendous atrocities on others.”

  Cassius butted in, “Wait a minute. Were you responsible for killing that fucker who had those young female Vampires in a harem?”

  Rose gave a curt nod. “Yes. He was a horrible human being, and I’m glad I took him out.”

  “I got those girls,” Cassius spoke slowly. “They’re safe now and in nests around the country, being shown how to be a responsible member of society and not to hurt humans.”

  “They didn’t hurt humans.” Rose frowned. “They were barely living.”

  “I know, however, once they gained their freedom, they had a bloodlust because they’d been starved. My men only just got to them in time before they would’ve killed god knows how many.”

  Rose’s eyes widened. “Sorry, I didn’t know that. I thought the Council would go in and deal with them.”

  “The Council contacted me, but not until after you’d been there. As I said, my men only just arrived there in time.”

  “I guess they dropped the ball on that one,” she admitted as he stared hard at her.

  “So, Rose, you came here to kill me?” Cassius bit out the words that almost choked him.

  “That was my assignment, yes.” She shivered, moving her arm so that she held it cradled against her.

  “What happened between us, was that your usual modus operandi?”

  “Please, Cassius, you have to believe me, I never intended that to happen. I told you already, fuck, I’d seen what kind of man you are and that I’d been lied to.”

  “How can you expect me to believe you?” Cassius spat out coldly.

  “Because she’s telling the truth.”

  The voice caused both of them to jump, eyes swiveling towards the broken door. “Seth!” Rose exclaimed as Cassius shot up.

  “How did you get in here?” Cassius moved quickly, stopping in front of the Witch he’d given safe haven to.

  “Your guards are fine.” Seth looked over at Rose. “I used a spell to put them to sleep. They’ll wake up soon and be none the wiser.”

  “You two know each other?” Cassius saw the sadness within the man standing in front of him. It cloyed the air around them as he looked between him and Rose. Her face chalk white with shock.

  “Yes.” Seth moved around Cassius, going to kneel down in front of Rose. “You okay?”

  “I’ve hurt my arm again.” She gave him a crooked smile that caused Cassius’ stomach to lurch in fear.

  “Here, let me fix that for you.” Seth took hold of the arm gently, muttering words that made no sense to Cassius. A few moments later, he patted the arm, smiling at Rose. “There you go, all fixed.”

  “Thanks,” Rose said before asking, “what are you doing here?”

  “This,” Cassius walked back over, feeling a need to sit next to Rose, but fighting it to stand stiffly before her, “is the first Witch I was so excited about. Our first to come and ask for sanctuary. Seems that was a lie, too.”

  Seth stood, his back ramrod straight.

  “It was no lie. I had to see if you were being truthful. I wouldn’t let anyone else be the first.”

  “Really?” Cassius asked sarcastically. “Again, you expect me to believe you? The two of you have lied from the very beginning.”

  “I’m telling the truth.” Seth shrugged. “Believe me or not, it’s up to you, but you won’t call Rose a liar. She already contacted me to tell me you weren’t anything like what we’d been told. I knew she had feelings for you.
I could tell it just by the way she spoke about you. So, bigshot Mr. Cassius Allarde, do not call her a liar on that.”

  “She’s lied since she got here, as have you, so tell me why I shouldn’t have both of you locked up right now?”

  “She was here to deal with a threat to the whole of humanity. The fact she realized that wasn’t the case is on her and her alone. I think your anger is misdirected.” Seth let out a long sigh. “Look, Cassius, we should be on the same team here. The one you should be upset at is the one who lied to us and sent her here in the first place. Don’t you think?”

  Rose swiped at the tears that still ran down her face, as Seth looked deeply into Cassius’ eyes.

  “I’ve had this girl with me since she was a child, and I’ve only seen her cry twice. Twice. Once, when her father left her alone with me, and the second time, when he told her that her mom was dead. Yet here I find her in your room, on your sofa, and she’s sobbing like a baby. Tell me, Mr. Allarde, what the hell did you do to make my girl cry?”

  Cassius held his hands up before turning his back on them and stalking over to his chair. Falling into it, he looked at Rose.

  “I thought she’d betrayed me. Not in coming here in the first place, as you say, she obviously thought I was some sort of threat, but something more personal. I refuse to discuss that with you or anyone else other than her.”

  “I didn’t,” Rose stuttered. “I promise you I didn’t.”

  Seth sat down beside her, Cassius almost snarled at his closeness to Rose. Anger rose up within him unbidden, rage rushed around inside him as he watched the Witch so close to Rose. His jaw ached as he clenched his teeth to stop himself from roaring at the Witch. But when Seth placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side, Cassius couldn’t stop himself from jumping to his feet.

  “What are you doing? Get your fucking hands off her!”

  Rose looked up wide-eyed as Seth smirked. “That touch a nerve, Cassius?”

  “I said, take your hands off her.” Cassius could barely keep hold of his urge to rip Seth’s arms from their sockets.

  “You two have no idea. Do you?” Seth asked, looking between them.

  “What?” both he and Rose said at the same time.

  “You’re soul-mates,” Seth said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness.

  “Are you nuts?” Rose said as she looked up into Cassius’ eyes. “He can’t stand the sight of me after what I’ve done.”

  Seth leaned down, whispering in her ear, “You gave him control. Didn’t you?”

  She blushed scarlet, staying silent as he nodded. “I know you did, Flower. He’s who you’re supposed to be with.”

  Seth hugged her closer, tighter, and Cassius couldn’t help himself, he reached down and wrenched her from within Seth’s grasp.

  “Do not touch her again or I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

  Rose was shocked, her body quivered as Seth started to laugh.

  “Told you,” he said as he rose to leave.

  “I think you two have a lot to talk about.” Seth was already at the door where he stopped and blew a kiss to Rose.

  “If you need me, I’m in room 1046, Rose.”

  Cassius snarled again, tugging Rose even closer as Seth nodded. “As I said, you two need to talk, but I’ll see you both tomorrow, because we’ll all need to have a conversation about where we go from here. Rose has reneged on a mission and the person she’s crossed is far more dangerous than any we’ve dealt with before. Remember that, Cassius, she’s put her own damn life on the line for you.”

  Seth disappeared, but before Cassius could even process the Witch’s words, Valentine darted inside. “Everything okay in here? I’ve no idea what happened, but I feel as if I conked out for a while there.”

  “We’re fine.” Cassius didn’t bother to inform his friend of what’d happened, if he did, Valentine would be after Seth’s blood.

  Valentine shook his head, as if to clear it, before he retreated and left them alone once again.

  Basilius sprang to his feet, fury coursing through him as Razor stood bloodied, injured, and furious before him. “What the fuck? You’re supposed to be one of the toughest Demons around, but look at you. All cut up and hurt by a little bitty girl. Call yourself a Demon? You’re more like a boy scout.”

  Razor snarled viciously. “She’s fucking lethal. You should’ve warned me about her penchant for using a four-foot-long fucking blade!”

  “You’re useless, a fucking moron.” Basilius smashed his hand onto the desk so hard it splintered right down the middle. “You better leave before I decide to make an example of you, and the only reason I’m letting you live is because I may have a use for you soon.”

  “For what?” Razor snapped as he wiped at the deep wound on his arm.

  “Babysitting.” Basilius grinned evilly. “You can do that, can’t you?”

  “Are you crazy?” Razor looked up wide-eyed. “You want me to look after a baby?”

  “No,” Basilius snarled. “I want you to babysit that fucking bitch when I get my hands on her.”

  An evil grin spread over Razor’s face. “I can do that. In fact, I can’t wait to do that.”

  “Good.” Basilius rolled his shoulders. “Because I’m going to deal with her personally after I’ve finished up some work here. Be ready, and come when I call you from home.”

  Razor cocked his head to the side, eyeing Basilius closely. “Home as in…”

  “Yes.” Basilius chuckled. “Bet she doesn’t like it, but you’ll be there to make sure she doesn’t. Won’t you?”

  “Fuck yeah.” Razor’s mouth started to visibly water.

  “I’ll summon you shortly, but for now, go and sort yourself out. You look like shit.”

  “Fine.” Razor’s eyes glinted. “I’ll be ready and waiting.”

  “You fucking better.” Basilius waved the other Demon away. “Go, before I change my mind and turn you inside out. Somehow, I don’t think you’d like that look.”

  Razor disappeared as Basilius’ laughter followed him.

  * * *

  Cassius turned Rose in his arms, scowling into her face. “I think we do need to talk. Honesty is the only way forward, Ma—sorry, Rose. Your name is really Rose? I thought the title was just a nickname of sorts.”

  “Rose Marie O’Connell.”

  “At least it wasn’t a total lie.” Cassius pointed to the sofa. “Probably better if we have some distance between us.”

  Rose sat stiffly on the edge of the cushion. “Why?”

  “Because,” Cassius sighed as he sat in his chair, his eyes boring into hers, “I appear to lose my self-control when I’m around you.”

  “I have never, not once, slept with a target. How could I?” Rose shook her head furiously as her face filled with disgust. “Anyone I’ve dealt with has been a revolting being doing despicable things. You have got to believe me, Cassius.”

  “What did he mean?” Cassius saw her face flush and she looked away, down at the floor. “Tell me what he meant,” he said more forcibly. “Look at me, Rose, and tell me what he was talking about.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Don’t play dumb.” He saw her eyes start to fill with tears again. His heart ached when he remembered what the Witch had said about her never crying, but he needed answers or this thing that was happening between them was dead in the water.

  “I’ve only ever been like I was with you with one other man, Seth. I can’t give up control in bed. He’s told me when I find someone I can do that with, then that person’s special and I should hold onto them.”

  “He loves you.” Cassius saw it in the way the man looked at her, spoke to her, held her.

  “I love him, too, and I thought we could be more to each other.” She looked up at him, a stray tear breaking free and running down her cheek. “But it’s never felt like the way it was with you. I let you do things to me without restraints.”

  “Wha
t? Restraints. What are you talking about?”

  “Seth usually had to use cuffs, bindings, stuff like that, before I’d let him, you know…” Her face was now scarlet as she stuttered out the words.

  “We’ve had sex, Rose.” Cassius raised an eyebrow at her. “I’ve seen every inch of your body, your most private and intimate parts. I’ve seen them up close and personal, so I think we can have a conversation without embarrassment. Don’t you?”

  “No.” She flushed even redder. “I’ve never spoken to anyone about this. Ever. So, excuse me, Mr. Sexypants Allarde, if I’m a little self-conscious here.”

  Cassius felt his lips tugging up and tried hard to keep his face serious. He failed. “Mr. Sexypants?”

  “Yeah, Sexypants.” Rose now looked angry, her eyes flaring with heat and passion. “You know it, so don’t try and say you don’t. Women must fall at your feet all the fucking time, and if you say they don’t, I’ll know you’re a liar.”

  “We’re going a little off-track here.” Sobering his thoughts as he again focused on the lengths she’d resorted to. “You’re telling me that you’ve never had sex with the man on top? Had someone bring you to orgasm with their mouth?”

  “Apart from Seth? Nope, not ever.” She shrugged and tried to look nonchalant, but her eyes were full of sadness. “I’ve tried, but I’ve never been able to. I don’t feel safe, in control, hell, I almost have a panic attack if anyone tries to get me like that. So that’s what he was talking about. He knew I’d given up my control with you.”

  “I’m not sure what to say to that.” Cassius felt happy she’d allowed him that control, but he also felt sad that she’d never before been able to do it. “Seth would restrain you in order to give you pleasure?”

  “Damn.” She looked away again. “Can we not talk about this?”

  “Answer me.”

  “Yes, yes, yes! All right. He used to have to tie me up because I refused to let him control me, my feelings, my pleasure. Hell, how much more do you want to make me feel ashamed? ‘Cause I’ve about reached my limit.”

  Cassius used his Vampire speed, kneeling in front of her and grabbed her hands to hold her firmly in place.