The Red Queen (26 page)

CHAPTER 23

SISTER IN LOVE

Two people weren’t thrilled at the sight of Lucienne and Vladimir walking toward the mansion hand in hand: Ashburn Fury and Bayrose Thorn.

Through the lens of her binoculars, Bayrose watched them from the rooftop of Lucienne’s mansion. The pair was cozy with each other.
For the moment.
Bayrose bit her lip and tasted blood.

She’d waited for Prince Vladimir to emerge from his room this morning, but when he came out, he hadn’t wanted to talk with her, but had brushed past her and hurried out of the front door to pursue Lucienne.

Jealousy was the bitterest flavor.

How could he choose her mad sister over her? She was no less than Lucienne. Unknown to the world, she was actually the new Sealer founder, equal to the Siren. Even though she was in the shadows, at least for the time being, she could be more powerful than her sister. One day the world would know.

It must be guilt and pity that drove Vladimir to Lucienne.

Bayrose wasn’t a total cold stone toward her half-sister. She’d been walking on the thin ice when she'd first come to Sphinxes. She’d tried to befriend everyone and volunteered in the medical facility to build up her reputation. How she hated the sight of blood and gore! She’d broken into a profuse sweat when she'd detected the Siren’s mind-probing ability. The Shadow in her had deflected Lucienne’s attempts. Bayrose had to constantly remind herself never to let her shield down. The Siren, though a wounded tigress, was still deadly and menacing.

Before Bayrose could exact her next plan, a rare opportunity knocked on her window. As soon as she’d gotten over the initial shock of knowing the Siren was her half-sister, she’d actively pursued a relationship with Lucienne—a short cut to the heart of Sphinxes.

Lucienne welcomed her. Bayrose was now a regular visitor to Lucienne’s house with access to her food, library, and her room. That led Bayrose to discover another weakness she could exploit—Lucienne’s concealed, yet deep longing for a close family tie.

She’d studied the Sirens race and their history as a child, a requirement for the heir to the Sealers founder. Her half-sister had been surrounded by enemies in the Red Mansion in her childhood. Lucienne was merciless toward her enemies, but extremely loyal to her friends. Bayrose knew well how to feed her sister’s need for family acceptance, and soon she’d wrap the Siren around her little finger.

She’d been amused when Lucienne had asked about their mother in a disguised careless tone. It nagged the Siren that their mother abandoned her, but raised Bayrose. Her sister’s hidden bitterness and jealousy greatly satisfied her. She would never tell Lucienne the true nature of her relationship with their mother.

Jekaterina had no understanding of motherhood. Mom didn’t seem to possess human emotions, yet everyone sought her approval. Father had been one of the most brutal and controlling man she’d ever met, but he’d been a puppy in front of mother. Bayrose knew he’d always feared her.

Had Jekaterina had her agents poison her firstborn? If Daddy had ordered the hit, Mom sure hadn’t stopped it. Bayrose felt cold air slither up her spine. But Mom had come to find a cure for Lucienne, and she’d been working in the lab day and night in order to save her elder daughter.

Bayrose was out of her depth at the games Mother was playing. She was the founder now, but was Mom still the real power behind the throne, even when in Sphinxes? She knew that Mom’s followers were absolutely loyal to her, and they were many and powerful.

It was ironic that the Siren and the Sealers had come together. But when the day called for Bayrose to take over Sphinxes, the Siren would be no more. The Sealers would be the only force that led the world.

She wouldn’t allow herself to feel sorry for her sister, despite it sometimes being hard for her to see Lucienne’s suffering. She would not care for Lucienne. The Siren stood in her way to greatness. The blood feud of an eon couldn’t be erased by their shared DNA. The commission to wipe out the Sirens’ line had been imprinted in her blood at birth, just like her father and all the Sealers founders before them.

For Bayrose, it was even more personal and urgent. Only when Lucienne was out of the way could Prince Vladimir come back to her and belong to her. She refused to live in the Siren’s shadow, and the Sealers would not settle for being a shadow power.

Why has it taken them so long
? Bayrose again trained her binoculars on Lucienne and Vladimir along the beach. The Siren threw her head back, laughing. Bayrose’s stomach churned. The prince must have cracked a joke. He used to tell jokes to Bayrose only. He used to make her laugh all the time. Now his teasing and flirting were for Lucienne alone.

The sight of him still made Bayrose’s blood sing. She couldn’t help it. No one had ever made her feel this way. First love was first love, and nothing could replace that.

Bayrose had called her mother, requesting she come to the mansion when Vladimir had gone after Lucienne. Then Bayrose had summoned Lucienne to break up her beach time with the prince.

Wait, what was happening
? Lucienne shoved Vladimir away. Were they fighting? Bayrose hoped she could hear their conversation. Lucienne yanked her tank top over her head. Underneath, she wore a lacy, white bra. She gave Vladimir a sultry look before her hands went to unhook her bra. The guards immediately averted their gazes. Lucienne twirled the string of her bra with a finger, then flung it at Vladimir’s face.

Bayrose widened her eyes, only to realize that Lucienne was having another episode. The Siren’s reputation was spinning down the drain faster every time she lapsed! The gloating light in Bayrose’s eyes faded quickly when she saw that instead of turning his face away like the guards to preserve Lucienne’s virtue, Vladimir openly stared at Lucienne’s full, perky breasts, looking awed.

Vladimir’s throat rose and fell. Lucienne giggled. Bayrose wanted to ram her fist into her shameless sister’s face. How dare that girl show her nakedness to Vlad? And why couldn’t he see how cheap she was?
You won’t laugh long, Sis
, Bayrose vowed.
Your end is coming.
I’ll make sure it comes sooner.

His hand holding Lucienne’s bra, Vladimir jogged toward the Siren. Bayrose’s heart contracted. What was he doing? Was he going to touch her?
Oh, no!

With another giggle, Lucienne sprang toward the ocean and charged the waves. Vladimir dove into the water after her, and then half of the guards jumped in as well. Vladimir was an excellent swimmer. He could keep Lucienne safe, though Bayrose hoped her sister drowned. If drowning wasn’t possible, then let a shark be lurking in the ocean, hungry for the Siren’s sweet flesh.

Instead of the shark, a beam of light dropped from the sky.

Ashburn sat on a lighted, translucent motorcycle.

Lucienne waved at Ashburn, then surfed on the wave, trying to impress him. The machine landed beside her, half under the water, where Ashburn lifted Lucienne from the wave and sat her in front of him on the machine.

Vladimir was shouting angrily at his rival.

Ashburn snatched a white robe from his lap and put it around Lucienne, covering her bare torso. The Siren twisted her body to look up at Ashburn, obviously flirting with him. She’d totally forgotten about her former flame, Prince Vladimir.

It’s your wakeup call,
Bayrose shouted inwardly at the prince.
She’s nothing but a slut!

The machine took off, carrying Ashburn and Lucienne in the direction of the mansion. Bayrose felt smoke emit from her nostrils. The Siren forever had tons of rescuers. Was it so hard for her to die quietly and exit the world in dignity?

In an instant, Ashburn and Lucienne reached the mansion. They went straight for Lucienne’s bedroom balcony. Bayrose tossed aside her binoculars, lifted her long skirt, and rushed down the stairs.

A guard stationed outside Lucienne’s door didn’t stop Bayrose from entering. All of Sphinxes knew Bayrose rescued their chief, and she was the Siren’s long-lost sister.

Ashburn got off his ride and turned to Lucienne, who kept playing damsel in distress. She clasped her hands behind the neck of her knight in shining armor as he scooped her up. They were so wrapped up in each other that neither paid Bayrose any attention.

Through a side window, Bayrose looked out at the beach. Vladimir raced toward the mansion as if his tail were on fire. The guards ran behind him.

As Ashburn and Lucienne held onto each other, Bayrose prayed they kept at it until Vladimir’s arrival. She wanted him to see with his own eyes that the Siren was nothing but a whore.

“As you can see, Ash,” Lucienne purred. “I’ve been naughty.”

“You’re not yourself,” Ashburn said.

“True. I don’t know what came over me,” Lucienne said. “It doesn’t make a good impression to swim naked in front of everyone, especially my guards. Do you think they’ll get over it?”

“You might get over it, but I doubt they’ll ever forget that image,” Ashburn said grimly, as if his own virtue had been compromised.

“What about you, Ash? You saw me too.”

“It’ll be hard to forget,” Ashburn admitted as he brushed Lucienne’s wet hair from her face. “But I see you differently.”

“Do explain.” Lucienne flashed Ashburn a seductive beam, which made Bayrose sick to her stomach.

“I see you not as the powerful Siren, but a kind girl I fell for,” said Ashburn.

Lucienne raised one eyebrow. Bayrose hated to admit that her sister resembled Mom. She, however, took after Dad. But she shouldn’t complain. Daddy had been a handsome man. 

“Under your hard shell, you’re more compassionate than anyone,” Ashburn continued, “but your humanity has a certain complexity to it.”

“That’s not the compliment I was looking for.” Lucienne pouted. “You should focus on my irresistible feminine side and fall for me harder.”

Bayrose wanted to puke. 

But Ashburn said, “I fall for you every day, deeper than the day before.”

Bayrose now felt a little crazy hearing men constantly profess their love for her sister.

“That’s nice. Thank you,” Lucienne said, resting her cheek against Ashburn’s jaw. “Now I’m going to tell you something I haven’t told a soul.”

“What is it?” Ashburn asked softly.

They were so engrossed with each other that neither of them registered Bayrose’s existence, as if she was a piece of furniture. Though their neglect of her worked to her benefit, Bayrose really wanted to scream at them to force them to notice her. But she stayed motionless, her heart pounding at what Lucienne was going to reveal.

“I’ve had this doomed feeling,” Lucienne said. “Lots of times I’m terrified when you aren’t around.” She clung to him. “Will you save me, Ash?”

Ashburn’s silver blue eyes turned storm gray, as if he couldn’t bear to hear her say that. “Not this time, Lucia,” he almost sobbed. “I can’t save you.”

For the first time, Ashburn’s raw brokenness got to Bayrose, making her feel sorry and awkward for intruding on his intimate moment with Lucienne, but it was too late for her to withdraw. All she could do was stay as quiet and inconspicuous as possible.

Lucienne and Ashburn fit perfectly. Why couldn’t Vladimir see that and let go of her? The Siren discarded the Czech prince as easily as a trash bag whenever Ashburn appeared, yet Vladimir flew toward her like a moth. She would burn him worse than she’d done. Bayrose needed to rescue her prince and make him see that she was the real deal—that she was better for him than Lucienne could ever be.

The door flung open. Bayrose let out a pent-up breath. Vladimir had finally arrived. He would see Lucienne for what she truly was—a tramp and a cheater.

But it was Aida who came into the room, holding a tray of drinks and snacks.

Lucienne inserted her elegant hand into Ashburn’s silver hair. “I was playing with you.” She giggled. “I’m perfectly fine.” She twirled her fingers around a lock of his hair. “But I got you, didn’t I?”

“Sweet girl.” Aida handed Lucienne a glass of almond milk, breaking the lovers’ embrace.

Ashburn jabbed a hand into his hair where Lucienne’s hand had been previously. He flushed under Aida’s glare. The old nanny’s sharp gaze didn’t linger on him. It trained on Bayrose, questioning her presence and intention. There was no trust or affection toward her in the nanny’s eyes.

The nanny pulled Lucienne’s robe tighter to cover the Siren completely. The pink on Ashburn’s usually pale face went deeper. “Young man,” Aida scolded, “you should know better than let her be like this. She could catch a cold.”

Murmuring an apology, Ashburn glanced around the room, and for the first time noticed there were more people in this room than he realized. As his gaze fell on her, Bayrose couldn’t help but rub the bridge of her nose anxiously.

Violet had told her about Ashburn, and in Sphinxes, everyone seemed to stay out of his way. She’d heard whispers about his powers. Some said that Ashburn could read anyone’s memories except for the Siren’s. Could Ashburn read hers while she was sheltered by the Shadow? Hadn’t it been created to fend off superpowers like his and Lucienne’s?