KING OF THE UNDERWORLD: Lucien and Scarlett (Earthbound Series Book 1) Read online

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  SCARLETT

  The next evening

  The Winters household

  ‘’Are you ready for this?’’ Emma asked me with a slight smile, worry in her blue eyes.

  ‘’Ready,’’ I let out a light laugh, as I felt Emma sitting down next to me. I had stayed awake most of the night wondering what the hell I had done and regretting every second. ‘’nope, I am nowhere near ready and I’m so nervous, I think I’m going to be sick,’’ I told her as we sat there watching as Pamela and Ava rearranged the furniture.

  ‘’We are one hundred percent behind you Scarlett and if you want to change your mind that is fine. One of us can go instead,’’ she reassured me, placing her hand upon my own, gripping it tightly.

  I knew she meant every word and I knew any of them would step into my shoes from just one word from me. Even if one of them came forward now at this precise minute, to announce that they wanted to go in my place it just wouldn’t work. I would not allow it; I couldn’t allow it. I and I alone was the only one who could do this. Too much was at risk. They didn’t know what was in store for us and what was waiting in the shadows.

  ‘’I know,’’ I whispered, placing my head on her shoulder, ‘’I know every single one of you would take my place.’’ Signing I lifted my head and turn to face her ‘’but I can’t let you. What’s happening is bigger than any of us realise. Any of you realise! We have to stay strong because if we don’t the consequences ….’’ I think of how to put this without frightening her, there wasn’t any other way, I had to be blunt, ‘’It will not only bring devastation to us but everyone we love and know. Even to those we don’t.!’’

  She signed, her eyes down cast and a frown appearing as if she was taking in what I was telling her ‘’I’m terrified Scarlett,’’ she confessed, raising her eyes to meet mine, ‘’Truth be told, We all are. Worried that Megan isn’t going to come home in one peace, if at all. We are terrified that you’re going to end up the same way,’’ she admitted to me with teared filled eyes.

  I squeezed the hand that was tightly holding onto my own, while with my other I gentle pushed the white blonde hair that had fallen, hiding one side of her tanned face. Even though I was younger at that moment for the first time, I felt our roles were reversed. ‘’I have to go,’’ I told her placing my hand onto my chest, trying to get the point across. She had to understand, to make this work, they all had to understand and accept that it had to be me. No other. ‘’There isn’t any other choice Emma. It. Has. To. Be. Me.’’ She shook her head, opening her mouth to protest when Pamela walked over towards us, she stood there looking down with concern placing one of her hands over our joint ones. We both knew from her face that she had heard overheard our conversation. I’m sure she had the ears of a bat ‘’Emma’s right any of us are more than willing to go in your place all you have to do is say the word,’’

  ‘’Pamela we all had this discussion last night. You all know that I must go. There isn’t any other choice,’’ I insisted. This was ridiculous, I knew they were petrified that something bad was going to happen to me, but I had thought we had sorted this out last night, obviously that wasn’t the case!

  ‘’She’s right,’’ came an unknown voice from the corner of the room, ‘’It has to be her.’’ She turned her head as if looking at someone or something behind her. She frowned. A figurine of a beautiful woman appeared in front of us. Her long silver hair appeared like a halo around her head, a small dark mole upon her right cheek. Her skin was smooth except for around her eyes, they alone told us she was older than she first appeared. Her figure slightly wavering as if trying to establish a stronger connection, she turned her head as if looking at someone or something behind her. She frowned saying something to whoever she could see before swinging her head back towards us, ‘’I haven’t much time.’’ She tells us, ‘’ Scarlett must be the one to go. If she doesn’t then everything you know will no longer exist. You will all have to learn to trust each other, you will have to put your trust in………’’ her voice started to fade, she was still talking as her figure gradually faded until it was as if she had never been there.

  All hell broke loose, the first question that entered our minds. Who the hell was she? None of us recognized her, though for some reason I felt as if I should. We should know who she was. The next was how had she managed to even get in here? It was obvious that she had some sort of projection but how had she even managed to get around our spells and were the heck did she come from? We all stood there wondering what the fuck had happened and how we were going to deal with it.

  ‘’Whoever our mystery guest was, it seems she and whoever was there with her wants Scarlett to go,’’ Mia said, breaking the silence ‘’she was quite persistent in that it should be her,’’

  ‘’We need to try to find out who she was. I don’t know about any of you, but I felt as if we should know her?’’ Emma said, we all but one nodded our heads with agreement.

  ‘’I don’t like it,’’ Pamela’s replied, biting her lip while shaking her head, crossing her arms over her chest, ‘’we’re about to do a confinement, protection and binding spell and some strange woman somehow manages to get into our own home! It doesn’t feel right,’’ she turns to face us all ‘’we need to think again, work out another plan,’’

  No, no, no that’s not going to happen I chanted to myself. ‘’we haven’t time for that,’’ I protest shaking my head ‘’Megan’s disappeared. How or why we haven’t a bloody clue and whoever that woman was? She’s right about one thing, It. Has. To. Be. Me.’’ I tell them hitting my hand against my chest trying to get my point across the best way I knew how. Signing I ran my hand though my red long curly hair, I didn’t want to argue with any of them, I just can’t be bothered with a repeat of last night. We had discussed it, and all agreed. I had made up my mind, it wasn’t going to change. It didn’t matter how much they pleaded with me. ‘’Deep down every single one of you know that’’

  I see the distress in their eyes, they all knew I was right. No matter how they felt, it had to be pushed to one side. Any hopelessness’s they might be feeling had to be ignored. We had no choice.

  Pamela gave a slight smile, nodding her head accepting what had to happen. She knew I was right. They all did. She stepped forward towards Ava taking the bag from her hand which held the herbs Melissa had sent.

  They all moved away from me.

  Opening the bag Pamela started to sprinkle them around me. I could hear her muttering to herself the whole time as if praying under her breath, before placing the rest into a small bowl lighting it, before placing it inside the sealed circle.

  The sweet fragrance weaved together, scents rising into the air and interflowing around us. They gathered around me forming a tight joint circle, as I stood in front of the bowl. I watched as they joined hands and with heads bent, we started to chant, all praying that this would protect me long enough to get me in and out.

  CHAPTER TWO

  SCARLETT

  Outside the club

  The Fullen Angel

  I stood as if I was rooted to the ground staring at the building in front of me. I knew that the concealment spell was working. I can’t help but remember their reaction upon seeing my transformation, it had been an enormous shock. They had sat there in shocked surprise with their mouths hanging open.

  After seemingly getting over the shock Abigail had remarked aloud, 'do you think Melissa has done it on purpose?’

  Mia had sniggered, trying to hold her laughter in. Causing Ava to give her a sharp shove with her elbow into her side.

  Pamela and Emma had been speechless, just sitting there staring at me. Wondering what the hell was wrong, I had rushed to the long-standing mirror. Gone was my wild red hair, green eyes, and milky skin. Normally I would stand at 5 feet 6 with loads of curves and tits to match. When I was younger, I had always hoped that I would become tall and willowy. That had never happened. Now it seemed my wish h
ad come true, in my place stood a 6-foot blonde, blue-eyed woman. After the shock seemed to fade away, my sisters had been thrilled that the spell had worked. I just hoped it stayed till I got to do what we planned. We had decided for my safety, I needed to be out within four hours, hoping that would give me enough time to find out what level Megan had gone up to and find out what had happened to her. The thought that I might have to open myself up to the feelings of those around me made my stomach churn. That was another of my gifts, one I did not enjoy. They came into force at different times in a witch's life. Touching objects, whether it was a cup to a person, it was a relatively new one for me. I just needed more practice in controlling it.

  The club in front of me was massive, it was as tall as it was long. Floodlights were placed around the roof, reflecting down onto the ground. Five maybe six storeys high with the words Fallen Angel lit up in neon lights across the entrance door as if beckoning, daring you to enter. How was I going to find out what happened to Megan? It was going to take me forever to search. I could feel myself start to panic, I willed myself to calm down. Ever since I had announced my decision to my sisters, I had been a wreck; my stomach felt constantly queasy and having trembling legs didn't help. The pep talk I'd given myself was a no goer. Nothing I had tried seemed to settle me. I had to push the anxiety to one side if I wanted to get through this.

  Standing there, I started to observe the various women entering the nightclub. More than half the women walking pass looked like they were wearing their lingerie, leaving nothing to the imagination. I am going to stick out like a sore thumb; I just know it. My skinny black jeans, ankle boots, light green blouse, and grey jacket were going to bring undue attention. No matter what the outcome was going to be, I knew that I had no choice but to go in. Everyone depended on me, especially Megan. Realising that my bout of anxiety had started to fade, I felt nothing but relief.

  Taking a deep breath, I dragged myself towards the entrance. Standing with a handful of others, I tried not to take notice of the funny looks I was getting. A large dark-haired man dressed in black stood as if guarding the entrance to the club. Looking me up and down, his eyebrow rose, his eyes lingering on my breasts before giving me a nod to enter, I tried my hardest not to cringe, not liking his focus and attention.

  I looked around the nightclub, trying to find the staircase that would lead me upstairs to the other levels. Scanning the room, I felt my eyes widening. We had heard the rumours, who hadn't, but seeing it with your own eyes was different from local gossip. Bodies undulated against each other to the music everywhere I turned, pole dancers swung around their poles, their naked bodies covered in some sort of shimming spray. Their nipples barely covered with tassels. To the left of me was the VIP area, seated behind the ropes, men sat receiving lap dances, the women wiggling their asses or breasts in their faces. If my eyes got any larger, they would pop out of my sockets, up against the wall in a darkened, but public area a woman withered as a large man sucked with enthusiasm on her breast. Watching in disbelief as the woman rode his jean covered leg. The urge to run was overwhelming.

  I'm so far out of my depth. I close my eyes and think of Megan, bringing up her image helped me calm myself down somewhat and helped stop me from bolting. When I got enough courage to open my eyes, the couple were still at it. The woman appeared to be enjoying his attention, her head thrown back, her eyes closed mouth wide open, and it looked as if she was moaning, but they were too far away for me to hear much what with the pulsing beat of the music. I watched as the woman grind her pelvis against the man's hard thigh. The look on the woman's face was one of excitement and desire. Which was not lost on me. I was mortified to realise the scene was starting to turn me on as a tingle developed between my own thighs. Oh god, I shouldn't be watching them, what was wrong with me? Anyone could notice how intent my gaze was on the couple. No man had ever made me feel like that or put the look the woman had upon my own face. Ha, who was I kidding? There wasn't even a man in my life unless you included our three cousins, and they didn't count. I gave myself a mental shake dragging my gaze away from the couple. I had to focus, needed to shut out what was happening around me, and concentrate on the one reason I was there. I'm no drinker, but sitting here, with the way I'm feeling.

  God, I need a drink.

  Ten minutes later

  I sat glass in hand watching across the crowded dance floor. My gaze on the staircase watching couple after couple, walking up that very staircase that I needed to get entrance to. A huge bugger stood guarding it like a Rottweiler, and I knew that he wasn't going to let just anybody walk up those carpeted stairs.

  There must be a way to get up there, but how? I had thought of a distraction, but there was no guarantee that it would work. No, I needed someone to get me up there but whom and how the question on my mind was. So far, no one had approached me; the thought had crossed my mind that the casting spell of protection we had placed was working a bit too well if that was the case I was buggered. No man human or supernatural had so far approached me. I honestly was beginning to think that no one found me attractive and wondering if I was bug ugly to every male species on the planet, which admittedly wasn't the case, looking the way I did.

  My main concern, for now, was how on earth I was going to gain access to the floors above. I had to get up there somehow. If no one approached me soon, then I would have to think of some other plan. I had noticed that none of the Staff went up the staircase that they all seemed to only go through the door that had Staff Only written in bold black writing across it. If no staff members could go up that staircase, there must be another way to the above floors. Maybe a lift or another staircase, I frowned deep in thought, could I be bold enough and just walk through that door as if I belonged there.

  Knowing that I had no other choice, too many people relied on me not to fuck this up. I swiftly gulped down the last mouthful of my drink, feeling the burn as it slid down my throat, nearly coughing in the process, and with a determination, I didn't know I possessed. I walked to the door with Staff Only written across the top and walked through. With my head held high liked, I belonged there, and I had been through those same doors many times before.

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  Was it being sheer luck that almost at the same time as I walked through that door, a black and red uniform was shoved into my arms? I would never really know. A snap of "it's about time you got here. I hope this isn't going to be a regular thing," the voice carried on "Mr. Sinclair expects all staff to be on time, in their uniform and discretion is expected at all times,"

  The woman before me was tall, and if it wasn't for the spell placed she would be towering over me by at least five inches, she was rail thin with the biggest breasts I'd ever seen, and I couldn't help wondering if they were fake. Her blonde hair hung down her back, her eyes were dark brown. They had this look in them as if she wanted to kill something, I hoped it wasn't me. I knew she was not human. She stood there looking at me as if I were something she had trodden on. I knew that she'd taken an instant dislike to me. Whether it was because I was human, I didn't know. I knew that there was no way she could sense I was anything more. Whatever the cause of her hostility, I didn't intend to hang around long enough to find out. The sooner I did what was needed to be done, the better. I wasn't here to make friends or make small talk, I needed to see if I could pick up any vibrations of what had happened to Megan. The minute I did. I intended to leave as quickly as possible. I didn't want to run into Lucien Sinclair or any of his minions, no matter what my visions and dreams had been telling me. If I was honest with myself, it scared the fuck out of me. The most worrying thing out of everything else, I knew the minute I set my eyes on him, my life would change.

  I listened as she told me in that uptight voice of hers, how displeased she was, and I had to change straight away, and she would be back for me in ten minutes and make sure I was ready. Holding the uniform as if my life depended on it, I hurried down the hallway to where the woman had instructed me to chan
ge.

  The whole time I hurried down that corridor, I waited to hear a shout from behind me. Telling me that a mistake had happened and demanding to know who the hell I was and why I was making out I was someone else; to my relief, nothing happened.

  In record time, I changed into the uniform, the top was one of those corsets or Basques some women loved to wear. This particular one was covered in pretty delicate deep red lace, which you had to lace up at the front and came with the shortest silk black shorts I had ever come across. I didn't need to look into the mirror to know that my breasts and ass cheeks were on show for anyone who wanted an eyeful. In my whole life until now I had never gone without knickers but having no thong to hand, I had no option, I just hoped nobody realised. To complement the outfit, they had supplied black fishnet stockings and six-inch-high heeled shoes with a red sole underneath.

  Turning to face the mirror, twisting my body around, trying my hardest to get a good look at myself. Oh My God, I look like a tart! How can I go out in the public eye for all to see dressed like this? By pulling up those big knickers and getting on with it. Megan needed to be found, and the rest of my family are relying on me not to mess this up. I just had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't really me I was looking at. The 6-foot blonde-haired woman I could see reflexed back wasn't me. I had to keep reminding myself of that, or I would panic. There was no one here who knew what I even looked like in my natural form.

  I wasn't a small-busted woman. In this form, I was even larger. The top pushed my breasts up and together, I knew without a doubt that I'd spill out of it if I took a too deep a breath. The slip of cloth that they were calling shorts was so tiny they just about covered my ass cheeks. They were so skimpy my cheeks were hanging out. The only thing that I didn't have a problem with where the shoes, they cost a bomb to buy. Walking in them was going to be a whole new ball game. They were going to be a challenge. I wasn't one to wear high heel shoes, the highest was two inches. I had never had a reason to wear them any higher. I could see myself wobbling around until I got the hang of them, I just hoped and prayed that I wouldn't end up on my ass before the night was over. That would be so embarrassing. There was one upside to this entire madness, well two. The first, I would hopefully find out what had happened to Megan, I just needed to find out where Megan had been before and where she had taken. If I managed to find that out, it would be well worth the getup I was wearing. The second….