Scarlet Night: The Complete Trilogy

by Megan J. Parker

  He needed Serena’s warmth!

  He needed Zoey’s guidance!

  And, instead, he got Celine’s vacant doe-eyes shimmering in fear at his rage.

  He sighed, Figures.

  Though they still hadn’t found any sign of what was wrong, Zoey was, thankfully, in stable condition in the infirmary. Their medical staff had told him that it was some sort of seizure—something that shut down all but her most basic functions—and, without any clues as to how she’d been put in such a state, any attempts at reversing it were a risk.

  “Z-Zane?” Celine’s nervous whisper brought him back from his thoughts and he turned to her.

  “What is it?” he grumbled.

  He watched as she stepped back and let out a deep sigh. Growing impatient with the prolonged display, he ran a hand through his hair, wincing as his fingers caught a tangled patch of dried blood.

  Suddenly he was painfully aware that, in Serena’s absence, he’d barely changed his clothes or taken any steps to keep up with his appearances.

  He was certain he looked like hell.

  And, coupled with his exposed temper, he figured that’s what had Celine so tongue-tied.

  “Sorry. I’m just going through some shit.” Zane sighed and rolled his eyes, “As I’m sure you’ve noticed by now.

  “We can talk if you’d like,” Celine smiled.

  “I-I’d really rather not,” Zane shook his head, still not fully trusting her, even if he didn’t have a real reason not to, somewhere inside of him didn’t want to trust her. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but the two people I trust most to talk to about this sort of shit are now both out of my reach. Talking to you is just…” he shook his head, “I just can’t. I just don’t know how to talk to you after all these years.”

  “Come on, don’t you remember what we used to have?”

  ~Fall, 2001~

  It had been a month since Zane had met Celine and while their time was brief in comparison to many other couples Zane had encountered, he felt a strong connection to her. She was kind and sweet, not to mention beautiful. Despite this, he continually found himself craving something—somebody—but not feeling instinctively drawn to her.

  And while he’d felt guilty about this, he often found himself turning down her offers for pleasure out of a natural lack of interest.

  Though that wasn’t to say that his new vampire body wasn’t lusting for something.

  Something Zane didn’t recognize at its core.

  Something that he only felt close to in his dreams…

  Zane opened his eyes to a familiar brightness. Cautiously, he squinted against it and, realizing it was the sun, began to step back in fear of being burned.

  Crying out in fear of the pain and potential death that he’d been warned of, he’d waited—held in the throes of panic—for the agony of the sun to take him.

  But nothing happened.

  He shook his head; finding the courage to open his eyes once more and was met with a feminine silhouette with features hidden from the sun’s rays. He stared at her, watching as she stepped forward and her long hair swayed around her, the golden hues of the sun radiating off her and giving her a golden halo.

  He smirked, somehow knowing that the woman in front of him was someone special; someone no other could take the place of for him.

  Someone he’d take on the devil to stand beside.

  “You came,” her sultry lips let out a hungry purr as she took the last step to reach him.

  “You were waiting for me?” he tilted his head; confused at the familiarity she presented him with.

  “Of course, you created me after all, Zane,” she grinned teasingly.

  “I did?” he asked.

  “Don’t act so surprised. Your innermost desires created me,” she smirked as one of her hands caressed down his bare chest.

  He tilted his head, noticing that he was now as naked as she was and he watched her mouth open to reveal a pair of fangs extending past her lips.

  “I’m so parched,” she whimpered, leaning forward. “Can I take a bite?”

  He groaned, his shaft instantly hardening at the idea of her feeding from him. He somehow felt if she didn’t bite him soon, he’d go out of his mind from need. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her into him, arching his neck enough for her to leave her mark. The sharp pain was quickly remedied by an intense pleasure as she began to drink from him. His hands found her golden orbs and relished in the heat she seemed to radiate with. As she went to pull away, he felt her lick around the puncture marks.

  “So beautiful,” he leaned down, “I think I should return the favor.”

  “Mm, what are you waiting for?” she shivered and pulled him down to her neck. “Just do it!”

  Taken aback by her forwardness, he quickly went to work and pierced her with his new fangs as his cock throbbed with a need to pierce her in much the same way. Seeming to know what he was thinking, the female ran her hands across his shaft and pressed it to her entrance. In one quick motion, she wrapped her legs around his waist and slid his entire length inside her. He cried out as he was met with her heated tightness as he drank her hot blood.

  “Zane! Don’t stop!” she cried out, “don’t leave me now!”

  He bit his lip, not understanding the last part as he went to thrust inside her more, continuing to drink her sweet blood. He shivered at the sudden chill that ran down his spine and the emptiness that came with it. The woman he was holding dissipated into a chilled mist and he looked around, desperate to find her.

  He turned, hoping to find her in the sun and frowned, watching as a black inky liquid began to slide across it. The air turned frigid as the sun was completely encased in blackness and Zane fell to his knees.

  His body felt just as cold as his surroundings and he screamed out as he begged for the woman in the sun to return.

  “No!” Zane cried out, jumping up from the bed, still sporting an erection.

  “Zane? What’s wrong?” Celine cried out as she hopped from the bed to make her way to him, “What happened?”

  He frowned, catching his breath and turned, noticing her eyes falling on his crotch and he bit back the sudden need to cover up. Coughing into his hand, he watched as Celine looked up and she paled from the knowledge of being caught by him.

  “I had a crazy dream,” Zane admitted.

  “I bet,” she whispered. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  About me fucking a sun goddess? Or about the fact that I’ve never felt that kind of pleasure with you? Zane bit his lip, guilty at the thoughts.

  “I… I can’t really remember. I just felt…” he sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t remember. If I do, I will let you know…”

  “That’s fine,” Celine offered him a soft smile.

  The moment was interrupted as three familiar knocks sounded at the door, and Zane silently thanked Raith for his timing.

  “I take it you are going out with him again?” Celine sighed.

  “I am, but it won’t be long and I’m also picking you up a surprise,” Zane smiled and watched her eyes light up. He had gone into town a few days ago and picked out a ring to get her. While it had only been a month and he’d hoped to use the intended promise ring as a sign of his thanks for her patience and support, he had a feeling he’d be forced to treat it as something more.

  “Well, I do like surprises,” she sighed. “Just be careful, please?”

  “I will!” With that, he forced himself to kiss her cheek and hurried to get ready.

  ~Present Day~

  Zane rubbed the back of his neck as Celine proceeded to move closer to him and shook his head, pulling away from her.

  “I…” he sighed and pulled away, starting down the hall, “I need to go check on Zoey!”

  He sighed, trying to shake the chill he got from Celine’s advances and barely noticed Raith in front of him as he walked headlong into his friend.

  “Raith! Sorry about that,
” he sighed. “I-I must not have been paying attention.”

  “Seems pretty common around here, mate. You alright?” Raith frowned, “You look… I don’t know, more worked up than usual.”

  “Just all the same shit and the added discomfort of Celine’s nonstop advances,” Zane shook his head. “I fucking can’t do this on my own, Raith.”

  “Then I guess it’s a good thing you’re not on your own, bud. I certainly won’t be going anywhere—heaven help the dumbass that tries to move me—and, once we wake Zoey up and get Serena back, then we’ll have the whole gang together again,” Raith smirked.

  Zane stared at him, “How can you sound so certain?”

  “It’s called ‘hope,’ mate. Try it sometime,” Raith smirked.

  Zane nodded and smirked, “Alright. Just know I won’t be putting any hope into any jobs you bring my way. They never end well.”

  Raith chuckled, “Well, you can’t say that it was boring, can ya?”

  “That’s one way to put it,” Zane smirked, feeling relaxed with Raith’s comforting attitude.

  “Come on, let’s go check on Zoey,” Raith grinned, turning towards the infirmary.

  “Yeah, I need some distance from Celine,” Zane sighed, “She’s getting clingy again. It’s like the past twelve years never even happened and she just expects us to pick up exactly where we left off.”

  “Well, honestly, she’d always seemed like a psychotic twat in my eyes,” Raith looked over at him.

  Zane paused at the comment for a moment and finally let out a laugh, “I think that’s the most accurate description I’ve ever heard.”

  Celine narrowed her eyes, watching Zane and Raith chatting, keeping her distance as they walked towards the infirmary. While she couldn’t hear the conversation, she suspected that at least partly, it was about her. Pausing as they closed in on the infirmary, she began chewing on her nails. If Zane’s mangy friend got in her way, she would do what should’ve done in the first place and killed the dog.

  She sneered as Zane let out a laugh at something Raith said.

  I should’ve killed that dog before he’d even lifted a leg near Zane.

  Isaac lifted his head and let out a snarl at the sound of the door opening, the sound only relaxing and stopping when he saw Zane and Raith stepping through the door. Then, as though nothing had happened, he rested his forehead back on Zoey’s bedside by her unconscious body; holding her hand and talking inaudibly to her.

  “How’s she doing?” Zane tilted his head, “Any changes?”

  “Nothing at all,” Isaac sighed. “They have no idea what could’ve done this to her. One minute she was awake and fine and then this? It makes no sense!”

  “We will find out what happened to her, Isaac. Make no mistake of that,” Zane nodded to him. “For now, we have to hold hope.” He smiled over at Raith, who gave him a nod. “That’s what Zoey would want.”

  Isaac bit his lip, nodding slowly. He’d refused to move, even threatened to bite any of the med-staff who tried to remove him from the room, and Zane knew that, if he had to, he’d wait by her side forever.

  The doorknob turned again, and the same tension grew along with another growl from Isaac until Nikki emerged, then, just like before, his growls and tension settled.

  “Isaac, are you going to be alright?” Raith asked, “If you need to breathe, we’ll be in here for Zoey. Maybe it would help clear your head.”

  “No, I won’t leave her. I won’t leave her side until she is awake,” Isaac shook his head. “Zoey is my life, before her the only enjoyment I got in life was my music. She gave me somebody to play for,” he shook his head, “That might not make sense to you, but it’s the world to me. I won’t leave her!” He let out a deep breath and bit his lip, looking back up at them, “Thank you for the offer, but this is where I belong right now.”

  The others nodded—none understanding his convictions more at that moment than Zane—and took in the sight of Zoey’s peaceful face as the machines around her beeped and buzzed. Finally, unable to stand the heart wrenching sight a moment longer, Zane turned and left the room, fighting the well of tears he knew Zoey would want him to shed.

  14

  Tracking Down Maledictus

  Spotting zane sitting alone in the corner of the munitions storage, Raith couldn’t help but roll his eyes. His old friend, though he was certain that his footsteps had been heard, made no move to acknowledge his presence as he ran the banded tuft of Serena’s hair between his fingers. A silent moment passed as Raith watched Zane pinch the base of the blonde-mass between each of his fingertips and slowly let the strands slip through to the tip. Again and again and again.

  “She’s still alive,” Zane finally said, though Raith had no guarantee it was meant for him to hear.

  Still, despite this uncertainty, he stepped towards him before settling in beside him. “Nobody thinks she isn’t. In fact, everyone seems pretty surprised that Maledictus has lasted this long.”

  Though Zane noticeably flinched at the mention of Maledictus’ name, he didn’t advertise his shaken nerves.

  Raith looked over, “I was sure you’d’ve passed out by now, or at the very least punched a few walls down.”

  Zane chuckled and shook his head, “You’d be surprised how hard it is to punch a wall now that I haven’t got him to blame for the damage.”

  “Ah hah! So our boy does have a conscience, after all?” Raith smiled, “Well then, that leaves the question of why you aren’t sleeping then.”

  Zane shrugged and looked away, “Couldn’t sleep.”

  Raith leaned forward, “Bad dreams?”

  Zane turned back to him, eyes studying him for a moment before he shook his head. “No. No, just… just dreams.”

  “I see,” Raith leaned back against the wall, looking around at the rows of guns and blades and bullets surrounding them. “Couldn’t just watch TV like a normal insomniac, eh?”

  Zane laughed, “Nah, man. Television’ll rot your brain; shit kills ya!”

  Raith rolled his eyes, “Yup. And all this”—he nodded towards the weaponry—“is much safer lounge material, I take it?”

  “I’ve been living for years as a living A-bomb, Raith, I’m not really—”

  “We,” Raith corrected him. “We’ve been living for years as a living A-bomb. I was there, too; don’t forget that. I had to watch everything without even having the benefit of a say in any matters. But I saw something else while I was in there—and I hope beyond hope that you don’t punch my teeth in for reminding you of this—you and Serena.”

  Zane looked up at him.

  Raith sighed, “Look, at risk of sounding like a Peeping Tom or something, I was able to see everything you saw, but I feel like you missed something crucial in that girl, Zane.”

  Zane leaned forward, seeming more intrigued than angry; something Raith was thankful for. “What?”

  “You.”

  Zane frowned, “Is that supposed to be some kinda dirty joke, ‘cause I am seriously not in the mood, man!”

  Raith chuckled and shook his head, “No, though I should’ve picked my words more carefully.” He sighed, “What I meant to say is that you have done something to that girl, something powerful. She was a fighter her entire life—you said so yourself—and fighting for that long all on your own takes a toll. Just look at us; we’ve been shackled with that fucking psycho for years and now we can’t keep our bodies from shivering like a damn bobble-head toy every time we hear his name!”

  “What do you mean… about Serena?” Zane leaned forward, returning the length of Serena’s hair to his pocket.

  “The point is that you have given Serena the ability to take the weight of the world off her shoulders; you’ve offered her a companion in you. Sure, she’s a fighter through-and-through—always was and always will be—but she’s stronger with you. Now I’m sure that she’d be tickled pink—and, no, that’s not a dirty joke, either—to know that you’re out there beating the shit out of club-goe
rs and whatnot trying to track her down, but your little stunt earlier was… well, fuck, Zane, it was damn-near suicide! If Zoey and I hadn’t gotten there when we did, Maledictus”—Zane shifted uncomfortably and Raith, though he didn’t falter, felt himself squirm as well—“would have killed you. That would’ve been you: dead; gone; bye-bye, brave-but-stupid Zane!” Raith took a deep breath, “And then where would Serena be? No closer to being saved and condemned to a world without the man who’s made this major impact in her life.”

  Zane frowned and looked over at him, “You sound like Zoey right now.”

  Raith shrugged a shoulder, avoiding eye contact with his friend. “So we might’ve talked a bit in the car while you were unconscious.”

  “Thought so,” Zane rolled his eyes. “I bet Celine loved being a part of that conversation.”

  “I wouldn’t say she was a part of the conversation, mate; more like, an awkward, pouty lump in the corner.”

  The two laughed.

  “So you’re here on Zoey’s behalf to chastise me for almost getting myself killed, is that it?” Zane finally asked when the laughter had subsided.

  Raith gave him a look, “Like I’m too stupid to chastise you on my own, dipshit?” He gave a playful-yet-solid punch to Zane’s hip, “I’m here ‘cause, both before we got you into the car and after we got back, you cursed us out pretty bad, and I—this is me, with my own brain and everything—think you needed a reality check.”

  Zane sneered at him, “And what reality are you going to check me into that I’m not already aware of.”

  Raith glared at him, his voice turning serious. “The one that you proved to me just a little bit ago, mate: that you are not the only one who wants to see that psychopath dead and gone; that you’re not the only person who’s suffered because of him!”

  Zane shook his head, “I never said that—”

  “You don’t need to say shit to send a message, Zane,” Raith’s tone was low-but-powerful, rumbling through the room like an earthquake. “You throw yourself into an impossible fight and then think you have a right to bark orders at the friends who show up to drag your ass out of the grinder—friends who are every bit as eager to see this chapter of their lives added to the ‘executed’ pile—just because they have sense enough to not get themselves killed? And what if we had killed him back there, Zane? Were you planning on punching the hideous corpse until it—what?—belched out Serena’s location? Or did it not even occur to you that you could’ve left us with no way of finding her?”