began, it turned into a cobblestoned driveway that wound around a hill. As they rounded the bend, there was a collective gasp.
“What the?” Zane breathed.
“Now that was unexpected.” Erik shifted, knocking his elbow into Sophia.
“Watch it, you big lug,” she complained, but no one took their eyes off the magnificent mansion they were driving up to.
It looked more like a hotel, and it reminded Scarlet of the Overlook Hotel from Stephen King’s The Shining . That gave her a couple of apprehensive goose bumps.
The grounds in front were spectacular—a circular section of landscaped lawn resplendent with topiaries, but not in the shapes of animals as might be expected. These topiaries were shaped like mythical creatures. There was a dragon, a mermaid, even a troll.
The Impala parked at the top of the rounded driveway at the foot of the stairs led up to the double doors of the mansion.
Tate and Heath waited at the foot of the stairs for the rest to join them.
Archer parked the SUV next to the Impala so they’d have a quick getaway if necessary.
Scarlet felt her nerves tingle. Yet another unknown. If she wasn’t as used to change as she was, she was sure she’d be losing her mind by now.
Roll with the punches, duck the disasters.
She opened her car door, but didn’t get a chance to step out before Archer was there and using his body as a shield for hers.
“Next time, wait until I’m here before you even open the door,” he told her in a low voice that wasn’t meant to carry any further than her ears.
She chose not to tell him to go jump. The poor male was only looking out for her.
The front door of the house swung open wide, and Scarlet found herself shoved down and into the side of the SUV.
Archer stood over her, a nine mil grasped in his hand pointing it at the opened doors.
The others had done the same, and they formed a phalanx around Scarlet.
“Put your weapons away,” a woman’s voice called from the door.
Scarlet rose a little to peek around Archer. He couldn’t protect her from her innate curiosity.
The woman stood in the doorway. She had long blonde hair braided in an intricate pattern around her head. A flowing diaphanous gown in the palest shade of pink clothed her body, but it didn’t leave much hidden. Scarlet found herself fighting the urge to tell Archer to turn around and keep his eyes on her, and not the hussy showing off her assets in the doorway.
“Who are you, and what do you want with us,” Archer called out.
“Me? I’m no one. A servant, and it is not I who wants something from you, but you who wants something from my mistress.”
The word mistress had Scarlet glancing over at Zane. The vampire’s stance had become tense as if he was expecting to fight.
“You talk in riddles,” Erik yelled, “We don’t want anything from you. You made sure we came here.”
“Riddles are our way, but please…” She turned to the side and waved her hand showing them to enter the house. “My mistress is expecting you.”
Scarlet watched Tate ask Archer what to do with a look. Archer’s nod was terse, the whole group still tense.
Tate took the first step, followed by Sophia, then Zane. Erik was next, then Scarlet was pushed forward, Archer close enough behind her to step on her heals. Heath took up the rear.
Scarlet paid close attention as they entered the house. The foyer floor was marble with pink veins. The walls had a shade so pale it was almost white, but Scarlet could still discern a touch of pink.
It seemed that pink was the color of choice for the décor. The servant led them deeper into the house, down a long passageway. They passed doors along the way, all closed and all painted in the pale shade of pink, so the walls and the doors appeared seamless.
There were double doors at the end of the hall, a little less imposing than the front doors. The servant reached them and threw them open.
Scarlet followed the others into the room, then stopped. She found her
“What the?” Zane breathed.
“Now that was unexpected.” Erik shifted, knocking his elbow into Sophia.
“Watch it, you big lug,” she complained, but no one took their eyes off the magnificent mansion they were driving up to.
It looked more like a hotel, and it reminded Scarlet of the Overlook Hotel from Stephen King’s The Shining . That gave her a couple of apprehensive goose bumps.
The grounds in front were spectacular—a circular section of landscaped lawn resplendent with topiaries, but not in the shapes of animals as might be expected. These topiaries were shaped like mythical creatures. There was a dragon, a mermaid, even a troll.
The Impala parked at the top of the rounded driveway at the foot of the stairs led up to the double doors of the mansion.
Tate and Heath waited at the foot of the stairs for the rest to join them.
Archer parked the SUV next to the Impala so they’d have a quick getaway if necessary.
Scarlet felt her nerves tingle. Yet another unknown. If she wasn’t as used to change as she was, she was sure she’d be losing her mind by now.
Roll with the punches, duck the disasters.
She opened her car door, but didn’t get a chance to step out before Archer was there and using his body as a shield for hers.
“Next time, wait until I’m here before you even open the door,” he told her in a low voice that wasn’t meant to carry any further than her ears.
She chose not to tell him to go jump. The poor male was only looking out for her.
The front door of the house swung open wide, and Scarlet found herself shoved down and into the side of the SUV.
Archer stood over her, a nine mil grasped in his hand pointing it at the opened doors.
The others had done the same, and they formed a phalanx around Scarlet.
“Put your weapons away,” a woman’s voice called from the door.
Scarlet rose a little to peek around Archer. He couldn’t protect her from her innate curiosity.
The woman stood in the doorway. She had long blonde hair braided in an intricate pattern around her head. A flowing diaphanous gown in the palest shade of pink clothed her body, but it didn’t leave much hidden. Scarlet found herself fighting the urge to tell Archer to turn around and keep his eyes on her, and not the hussy showing off her assets in the doorway.
“Who are you, and what do you want with us,” Archer called out.
“Me? I’m no one. A servant, and it is not I who wants something from you, but you who wants something from my mistress.”
The word mistress had Scarlet glancing over at Zane. The vampire’s stance had become tense as if he was expecting to fight.
“You talk in riddles,” Erik yelled, “We don’t want anything from you. You made sure we came here.”
“Riddles are our way, but please…” She turned to the side and waved her hand showing them to enter the house. “My mistress is expecting you.”
Scarlet watched Tate ask Archer what to do with a look. Archer’s nod was terse, the whole group still tense.
Tate took the first step, followed by Sophia, then Zane. Erik was next, then Scarlet was pushed forward, Archer close enough behind her to step on her heals. Heath took up the rear.
Scarlet paid close attention as they entered the house. The foyer floor was marble with pink veins. The walls had a shade so pale it was almost white, but Scarlet could still discern a touch of pink.
It seemed that pink was the color of choice for the décor. The servant led them deeper into the house, down a long passageway. They passed doors along the way, all closed and all painted in the pale shade of pink, so the walls and the doors appeared seamless.
There were double doors at the end of the hall, a little less imposing than the front doors. The servant reached them and threw them open.
Scarlet followed the others into the room, then stopped. She found her
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