Rage (Scarlet Dawson Book 3) Read online

  Rage

  By

  Nicola Chadwick

  Also by Nicola Chadwick

  The Scarlet Dawson Series

  Hunted

  Sacrifice

  Rage

  Midnight Pack Series

  Siren’s Call (Coming Soon)

  To Mum and Dad

  For my love of reading, without which I would have never followed my dreams.

  Chapter One

  I walk around a corner on the second floor of The Manor and quickly stop in my tracks before sliding back around. I knew sneaking out of this place would be a pointless exercise, but I had to try.

  Bastian was planning something. I know that much from my attempts at sneaking around. Every single time I walked into a room with him and his minions, they would all stop talking and find somewhere else to be. The only person I felt like I could rely on now was Silas and, even then, she had the most to lose and could potentially betray me.

  I peek around the corner again, waiting for the Lycans to finish their conversation and wander off, so I can finally make my way down to the first floor and my escape. I wasn’t sure how far away a Lycan could scent me, and that was the only variable Silas and I could come up with whilst planning to sneak out. Of course, we also didn’t account for Jinx following me along on my mission. I had to pick her up and put her back on the bed five times before she took the hint that I didn’t want her to follow. She’d been extremely clingy since we had gotten back from Faerie.

  After I had passed out when Silas handed me the stone, Bastian had reverted to caveman mode and isolated me in my room for the rest of the day where I had undergone more tests from Gerry. I obviously already knew Gerry wouldn’t find anything wrong. It was the innate evil lurking inside the stone that had caused me to pass out. I couldn’t handle the cold magic contained inside its smooth surface, but, unfortunately, I needed to wield the stone to stop Vex. The magic inside was potentially the only thing that could match his level of power.

  Bastian has tried my patience now for two days, imposing rules on me that he knows I won’t stick to. Aylesbury has been just as bad. They have both said they will not let me go alone to the canning factory, but I know if they go with me, and Vex turns up, Bastian will try something, and I will have no chance at getting my brother and Silas’s sisters back.

  I glance around the corner again after noting the voices have quieted, and the hallway is clear. I slowly inch around the corner then silently creep along the corridor until I reach the stairway. I pause at the opening and look both up and down before I make my way slowly down the stairs.

  When I reach the bottom, I breathe a sigh of relief that the steps are sturdy enough not to creak. I pause again in the doorway to the reception area. There were already a few Lycans loitering around which made me more suspicious that something was happening because it was three in the morning.

  I slide along the wall nearest to me in hopes of making it to the side door where I can slip out and hopefully meet Silas. I follow the curve of the wall, tracking the Lycan’s movements with my eyes. As I reach for the door handle and push, the door drops slightly on its hinges and squeaks loudly as it opens.

  I freeze, my eyes going straight to the Lycans and note that the Lycans don’t move, even slightly, so I edge through the door, catching my side on the door handle as I squeeze through the gap. I double over and wince in pain as the metal handle connects with the exact same spot where Jared had stabbed me a few days ago.

  A few weeks ago, my side and broken wrist would have been healed but now I was healing like a Human, maybe even slower. It was my own fault really for not finishing the mating bond with Bastian, but since my return, he had avoided being alone with me.

  I grab my side and glance behind me to see the Lycans all looking my way. I ignore them and flee through the door into the dark cool night. As I round the back of The Manor, I notice that Silas is nowhere to be seen. I was relying on her to appropriate a pack vehicle for me because no one seemed to be watching her like they were me which was shocking, considering Bastian didn’t trust her not to betray us.

  I turn to the side where I can hear the crunch of feet on gravel.

  Shit! Where is she?

  As the footsteps come closer, the glare of bright headlights blinds me before a truck screeches to a stop. The sound of a stone catching in the wheel makes a noise that would make anyone cringe. I shudder then scramble to open the door and climb in. As soon as I’m in, she sets off and I throw a glare at her.

  “Where the hell have you been?” I say to her.

  “Hot-wiring a giant ass truck is not as easy as you made it sound,” she replies, narrowing her eyes at the road in front of her.

  “How hard is it to strip two wires and touch them together until the engine starts?”

  “I broke two nails trying to strip the wires,” she tells me, holding up her hand to show me the offending digits. She hadn’t just broken her nails she’d ravaged them.

  I roll my eyes at her. “I told you to use wire strippers or that small knife I know you have tucked in your pocket. I think I pretty much told you that in the very clear instructions I gave you an hour ago.”

  “Well, I clearly don’t remember that part then, do I?”

  I shake my head then direct her to turn right. “Well, if your memory’s that good I suggest we talk over the plan again.”

  She sighs then says, “I drop you off a block away from the factory. You are going to go there alone and hopefully get to Vex before Bastian does. I’ll then circle the block, park, and come to meet you. I will remain hidden outside the entire time watching, then once he teleports out, I use my phone to track him. You have still got the tracking device?”

  I touch the small device in my pocket. I had to find a way to stick it somewhere on Vex. We figured he wouldn’t use traditional methods of transport and would more than likely teleport in and out which meant our only chance of following him was to plant a tracker on him and hope he didn’t find it.

  There are too many variables and holes with our plan, but it was all we had for now. Vex’s ability to steal souls and shift into that person made him a very difficult person to locate. Plus, Silas only knew a few of his guises. He potentially could have many more.

  As Silas drives further into Port Vale my mind wanders to what Vex is doing with her sisters. As far as I know, they were sheltered and vulnerable, whereas I was not yet fully convinced Jared was under Vex’s influence. His last words to me had been, ‘I have to make this look real, I’m sorry.’

  I had spent many hours wondering what that meant. Was he under Vex’s influence and ‘sorry’ because torture went against everything he believed in? But then why would he need to make stabbing me look real? Unless he wasn’t under Vex’s influence and was going along with his plans, so we would have an inside man. Either way, I hoped he was okay. I just hope he knows I don’t hate him for stabbing me. I know it was all Vex’s idea, and he had no choice.

  We circle the block twice, checking for onlookers and vehicles, and when we are sure there is no one around, I jump out of the truck and head toward the factory.

  While the sun hasn’t yet risen, the darkness of the night sky has already begun to fade, making it easier to see. As I reach the metal gates of the factory, I stop and scan the darkened area of the metal overhang. I can barely see into its every corner, but I wouldn’t trust yet that either Bastian or Vex weren’t already lying in wait for me.

  If Bastian is here, he will ruin everything. Vex will not turn up. He will disappear again. It is already unusual that the only lead we have on his whereabouts is his own note saying he would meet us here. Without that, we would have nothing to go on at all, and
I had to find Jared and Silas’s sisters.

  I walk towards the rear door, finding it ajar. As I reach for the handle to push it open, I hesitate and, instead, pull Neria out of my hip sheath. Not that she would be much help against Vex but she offered me the illusion of protection, however slight it might be. Although with one arm in a cast and the other gripping my sword I wasn’t in any position to fight, especially when it is my sword arm that is broken.

  I edge through the door noting that none of the machinery has moved since the last time I was here, making this a little easier. I weave in and out of the equipment that is taller than me and come to the spot where Roan had caught me last time. I hold a breath and stand still, after hearing no sounds, I release my breath relieved that I am still alone.

  After I finish rounding the machinery, I head to the first metal staircase leading up to the next level and check every room before moving back downstairs to wait for Vex’s arrival. I had no doubt he would just pop into existence now that I knew that was one of his stolen powers.

  I move back to the spot where he had met me before, hoping that because it is familiar that would be where he would teleport to. I check the time on my phone and note there are exactly thirty more minutes until first light, depending on your definition of first light. I’d calculated a window of between four and five in the morning.

  After ten minutes of pacing and checking my phone, I decide to lean against the nearest wall where I have a decent vantage point of the main entrance in the gap between the two tall pieces of equipment. I pick my foot up from the floor and brace it against the wall then take a deep breath in. When I breathe out, I hear a faint noise, the sound of metal hitting the floor but quite far away.

  I slowly run my eyes over the factory when I see a shadow move in one of the upper rooms. Adrenaline courses through my body and I’m quickly on alert and moving towards the staircase opposite me. As I walk past a conveyer belt, I notice a shadow out of the corner of my eye, so I vault over the belt in time to raise my sword to Bastian’s throat. His fully black eyes boring into mine.

  “I told you not to come here,” I say through gritted teeth. Words can’t describe how angry I am right now. “Seriously, Bastian, I told you he wouldn’t come if you were here.”

  “And I told you, you weren’t going alone, so you sneak out!” he roars at me.

  “I knew if you came you wouldn’t stay hidden, and Vex knows everything, he sees everything,” I say, lowering my sword and taking a step closer to him.

  “I checked the surrounding businesses and have had cameras hooked up to this place since an hour after you received that note. I assure you he won’t know we are here,” he tells me, backing up a step.

  “If I know you are here, I can assure you he will. Right now, I can see at least six Lycans doing a really crap job of blending into their environment. If I know they’re there with my limited senses, then Vex certainly will.”

  “Shit!” Bastian says under his breath.

  “Get them out of here now, and I’ll let you stay, but if you don’t stay hidden, I’ll kill you myself,” I tell him, walking off.

  As I near the piece of machinery where I thought Vex would appear, I see a piece of paper taped to the metal casing that wasn’t there a few minutes ago. I snatch it down and read.

  Scarlet.

  If you thought you could trap me, you were wrong. You will hear from me again.

  V

  I knew it, I knew he wouldn’t come if I wasn’t alone.

  “Bastian!” I shout, scrunching the paper in my hands.

  I stand seething until Bastian appears at my side. I turn to him and shove the paper into his stomach before walking off to find Silas. I couldn’t speak to him when I was this mad and, lately, he’d been tipping me over the edge a lot.

  I walk out the main door to see Cain holding back a struggling Silas. Her silvery blonde hair whipping around her face as she struggles in the grip Cain has on her arms.

  “Cain, what are you doing with Silas?” I ask, trying to remain calm.

  “She was sneaking about outside, so I’ve detained her.”

  “You were sneaking about too, but you don’t see me manhandling you,” Silas grinds out then flails her legs, catching Cain in the shin.

  He winces but doesn’t drop her. Suddenly her eyes narrow and she stills, a string of obscenities streaming from her mouth before she says, “If I lose my sisters, I will murder you in your sleep. You. Overprotective. Asshole!”

  I turn around to see Bastian walking up behind me, his eyes narrowed and trained on Silas.

  “I’m with her on this one,” I say, gaining his attention.

  “What did you expect? You’re constantly being kidnapped and putting yourself in danger. This guy has manipulated everyone and everything around you so that you could become his puppet… I just want to keep you safe,” he says, reaching for me.

  I take a step back, shaking my head.

  I ignore the argument that I really want to have with him, and instead say, “Silas and I will be heading to my office to regroup. Aylesbury stayed at home last night, so he will be there too. Hopefully, that will satisfy your need to constantly guard me, so don’t bother following us.”

  Bastian half glares at me but doesn’t argue his point. He knows I’ll stop at nothing to get Jared back, and I know he has a valid point about my safety. There is no point rehashing the last couple of days’ worth of arguments.

  I turn to Cain. “Release her.”

  If I wasn’t so weary, I’d be amazed that Cain doesn’t ask for Bastian’s approval before she’s released and shoved away from him.

  Chapter Two

  Silas is quiet at my side as we walk back to where she left the truck. It’s one of those uncomfortable silences. I keep glancing at her, waiting for her to say something, anything, but instead she marches towards the truck with her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed in a tight line.

  I walk over to the driver’s side of the truck and, after opening the door, I bend to locate the two wires that Silas had stripped earlier. I pick them up and smile when I see the ravaged outer casing. Shaking my head, I touch the wires together until I hear the purr of the engine. Silas has climbed in the truck and is blankly looking out of the window, blatantly ignoring me.

  I climb in, shut the door, and quickly check the truck is in gear before I release the brake and accelerate toward the fiery dawn light. I silently thank Silas for picking an automatic as I was finding it hard to do anything with the cast on my arm.

  Taking a deep breath, I say to Silas, “We will get your sisters back.”

  She turns towards me and says, “And just how will you do that?”

  “You’re forgetting I have something he wants.”

  “But you’ve already said a hundred times that you won’t give him the stone back.”

  “Then we just have to find something he wants more than the stone.”

  I glance at her as she turns towards me. “The only things he’s ever wanted are you and that stone. Without those things he’s a loose cannon.”

  She’s right, he will be unpredictable now. Our only goal now is to make sure he finds a way to contact me or we use other methods to find him and locate our siblings.

  We sit in silence for the rest of the journey back to my office. I realise, once I park the truck outside Dave’s, that I haven’t got my keys, as usual, so I lead Silas in through the pizzeria. I nod to Dave as I pass through the back door, and he grunts in return before turning back to his dough. My stomach growls as I smell the tomato sauce he has reducing on the stove.

  When we reach the office, I open the door and immediately zone in on my desk. Everything has been pushed to the floor and a piece of paper is anchored to the bare desktop with a knife. A very familiar knife. The same one that Rozen had used on me. I’d recognise it anywhere.

  I eye the broken computer on the floor amidst the scattered papers and pens and choose to overlook the mess. Instead, I rush over to the
knife and study the blank paper. Silas follows me and reaches for the hilt.

  “No don’t!” I say, batting her hands away with my own. I look her in the eye and say, “We could actually try to extract a fingerprint.”

  “You don’t really think he’s stupid enough to have a fingerprint in the Guild database, do you?” she says, her eyes rolling like we don’t have a chance.

  “At this point in time, I’m willing to try anything, aren’t you?” I say before moving to one of the cabinets to grab a clear evidence bag and the chemical spray.

  I use the bag as a glove and gently free it, placing the knife on its side on the desk before coating it in a layer of the chemical spray.

  “What’s that for, then?” Silas asks.

  “It’s a chemical compound that sticks to the oils found in fingerprints. After a couple of minutes, it activates, bringing a clear and brightly coloured print to the surface. I can then take a picture and use that to search against the Guild database.”

  “I thought you people dusted for prints then sent the object off to a lab?”

  I turn and burst out laughing at her. Once my laughter dies down, I say, “Wow, Silas, just how old are the detective films you’re watching?”

  She turns red before mumbling, “I learnt a lot of my undercover reconnoitring from watching reruns of Hawaii Five-O.”

  “I think you just made my day,” I tell her as I pick up the paper and read the message written on the back.

  Watch the morning news.

  That wasn’t a good sign. What has Vex done now? Killed someone? I share a look with Silas. I can tell she’s thinking the same before she says, “This can’t be good?”

  “How long until the news airs?” Silas asks.

  I look at my watch then say, “Another couple of hours, unfortunately.”

  “Yet again we are waiting around,” Silas replies in a very pitiful voice.