6. Refusing
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Alexander's room. He smirked when he saw me. "Scarlett, what a pleasant surprise" he said. "Do come in."
I shook my head no. "I'm fine right here" I replied.
"Very well" he said. "What is it?"
I opened my mouth to speak then closed it again. "I…I want to break our deal" I told him.
"Come again?" he asked.
"I want to break our deal. I don't want to be a part of this anymore" I told him.
He laughed and shook his head. "Now why on earth would you want to do that?" he asked. "We have a very good thing going." He grabbed my throat and pulled me towards him. "This deal works for the both of us."
He squeezed harder. "You don't want to leave me, this is all the butler's talk isn't it? You're little friend. Faustus I presume?"
I sucked in a sharp breath and he smiled. "It is isn't it? You like him don't you?" he asked.
He pulled me into the room and locked the door. "Let's see how much he likes you after I'm done hmm?" he smirked.
Alexander pushed me down and pulled out a small blade. "Let's start with that angelic face of yours" he mused.
I whimpered and turned away from him. He grabbed my chin and held it in place as he ran the tip of the blade across my cheek. "This will only hurt a bit then quite a lot."
Claude pulled his watch out to look at the clock and frowned. Where is Scarlett? He thought. He snapped the watch closed and put it in his pocket again. It was after midnight and she still wasn't here.
"Hannah I have some things to take care of. Keep a watch on things" he told her before leaving.
Claude walked through town watching in amusement at the activity around him. He moved out of the way as a man and a scarcely dressed women disappeared into an inn. He paused however when a peculiar scent his nose.
He rounded the corner and approached a dark alley noting the smell as it got stronger. Barely fresh demon blood. He came to a halt and covered his mouth in complete shock at the scene before him. Scarlett lay in a complete mess. Her clothes ruined and torn, he could see cuts and bruises on her flesh, dried blood staining her dress and a long jagged cut on her face.
Claude knelt down and pulled off his coat wrapping it around her before gently pulling her into his hold. He spotted a note tied with a ribbon on her wrist and took it opening it.
You persuaded her to refuse me for your own reasons and she paid the price dearly, she cried the entire time, but I took care of that. Your move Faustus.
Alexander
Claude shoved the letter into his pocket and gently lifted her up. He returned to the Trancy Manor in record time moving too fast for the mortal eye to see and lay her on his bed.
"Claude I smelled, oh my" Hannah said entering his room. "Isn't she Michaelis sister?"
Timber, Canterbury and Thompson peeked around her.
Claude nodded. "Timber, Canterbury, Thompson, I need a bowl of water, a towel, bandages and clean linens. Now" he told them.
They nodded and disappeared to collect what he asked for. "Hannah…I need you to collect a couple of souls for me. Any will do" he instructed.
"Of course Claude" she replied before leaving.
He pressed a kiss to Scarlett's lips. "You're going to be ok" he whispered.
Timber, Canterbury and Thompson returned with what he needed and set them down. He shooed them out and shut the door before returning to Scarlett. He started by carefully removing her torn clothes and set them in a heap on the floor before proceeding to wipe all the dried blood off of her.
It was an hour before Alois was to wake when Claude finished tending to her wounds. He collected everything and closed the door to his room before getting rid of the tattered clothes and bloodied water.
He turned his head and went to answer the front door as he heard someone knock. "Sebastian. What a surprise" Claude said. "What brings you?"
"Don't play games Faustus. I know she's here" Sebastian told him.
Claude motioned him in and shut the door. Sebastian's eyes narrowed and turned slightly pink as the scent of blood hit him. He growled and grabbed Claude by his shirt. "What have you done?" he snarled.
"It was not I Michaelis. I merely tended to her wounds" he replied. "Please put me down and I'll show you."
Sebastian reluctantly set him down and followed him. Scarlett was still lying on the bed, having not moved a muscle since Claude left. Sebastian was at her side in a spit second. He let out a small growl. "If you didn't cause it, then who did?"
"It is not for me to say" Claude answered.
Sebastian gently lifted her up. "As much as I hate saying this but thank you for…what you did."
Claude only nodded and moved out of the way letting Sebastian pass.
Author's note: Sorry its another short chapter but i got back to school so i didn't have much time...hoped you liked it
