The Return

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting a golden glow across Scarlett's face. Her lashes fluttered as she slowly awoke, the warmth of the morning sun coaxing her from her slumber. She lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. The anniversary of her parents' tragic accident weighed heavily on her mind, and today was the day she dreaded every year.

Just then, the door creaked open, and a woman in her late fifties, with an air of gentle authority, walked into the room.

"Good morning Loretta!"

"Good morning Scarlett, how was your night?"

"Okay...today is that day again, isn't it Loretta?"

"It is, you'll be alright," she said. It had already been nine years since Scarlett's parents died in the accident.

"The party is planned as per your requests," Loretta said. Scarlett got up from her bed, had her shower and went out to meet Nicole.

Nicole was just as rich as Scarlett, but the two never seemed to care about their riches. Before her parents died, they had opened up another branch of Quinn Incorporation but Scarlett couldn't care less. She didn't like responsibility at all so she immediately made her cousin Rodriguez the CEO of the branch. Nicole and Scarlett always trained together. Even though Scarlett would train the whole day, she would still train with Nicole afterwards. Nicole decided they go shopping and after much persuasion Scarlett finally agreed.

Scarlett was never one to enjoy shopping, she always preferred to just dress normal; wearing her t-shirt and jeans with a black leather jacket, if not that she would wear a really big sweat-shirt and a pair of black high waist jeans and boots. So for the reason of the party, she reluctantly agreed to go shopping but Nicole couldn't change her fashion sense just this once.

They arrived at Scarlett's mansion two hours before twilight and they got ready, everything was prepared for the party but little did they know what was prepared for them.

The party was going as planned, there were well wishers who to Scarlett were just invading her personal space, she didn't like being pitied or felt sorry for and besides that, they just wanted to crack up business deals with her, she finally managed to escape them and went to the balcony just outside the room, even though she hated etiquette and grandeur, she had to do it.

"Hey! Saw you having a little problem with the guests, you okay?" Nicole asked.

"Yeah I'm good," Scarlett replied. "I'm surprised I've lasted this long,"

"So am I,"

"Thanks for everything Nicole,"

"What are best friends for," Nicole said and they embrace each other, but what was meant to be a peaceful evening turned into a hellhole.

Gunshots were heard and masked men came out of nowhere. Scarlett and Nicole's bodyguards were quick to get them to safety but these men were just too precise and were already right in front of them trying to take down the bodyguards. Their bodyguards were dempires and strong but it seemed the men weren't human either and they were stronger. They knocked down the two guards easily.

"Listen girls, we didn't kill anyone, all we want is for you to come with us," one of them said. Scarlett stared intently at the two men; one had dark brown eyes and blond hair while the other had red fiery hair and dark blue eyes. She knew people who had these features and that voice... people she cared so much about but hadn't seen them in nine years but she couldn't jump into conclusions. It couldn't be them...could it?

"If it is money you want I can give you that," Nicole was quick to say but the man just smirked at her.

"We're not here for your money Nicole, just you both, we're not kidnapping you just think of it as a...an invitation to a way cooler party," the blond said.

"Yeah besides, I know you both aren't enjoying this party anyway," the redhead said. "How do you know my name?" Nicole asked.

"Just come with us and I promise no one will get hurt," the blond said ignoring Nicole's question.

"No one gets hurt?" Scarlett finally said. Scarlett didn't know why but she trusted them. She just hoped her gut wouldn't be wrong. The man nodded and all she could do was sigh and look at Nicole. They had no idea what to do or who these men were or what they wanted, if it wasn't money then what did they want? The girls silently followed the men to a black car parked outside the mansion.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was somewhat calm as the girls sat close to each other with Nicole's head gently placed on Scarlett's shoulder. Nicole had long fallen asleep saying she didn't sense any danger coming from the men while Scarlett sat there staring out the window, she seemed to be thinking.

"Scarlett I think you should also get some sleep like Nicole, you must be tired,"

"I'm not thanks..." Scarlett said as she turned to look at redhead with a black mask on his face. He felt oddly familiar even though she couldn't see his full face. She sat there not moving with her eyes closed, it was like she wasn't even breathing, anyone who saw her would think she was just a lifeless body. The blond looked at the girls behind him and smiled. The car stopped a few meters from a plane and they both got out the car. The redhead opened the backdoor and Scarlett's eyes flew open.

"Where are we?" Scarlett asked.

"Airport,"

"Do we have tickets?" Nicole asked.

"It's a private jet," the blond said. Scarlett and Nicole got out the car and followed them. Other black cars stopped behind the car they came out of and more masked men came out.

The plane was just the plain definition of luxury, the chairs were made of the finest leather and it looked like it was a hotel built inside a plane. The curtains had golden embroidery. There was a bedroom at the rear end of the plane; before the bedroom was a bar with different cases of alcohol. The girls were ushered into the bedroom where there were a few clothes for them to change into.

"Is this supposed to be a plane or an airborne mini hotel?" Nicole asked with clear sarcasm, loud enough for them to hear.

"If you're still tired you can get some sleep,"

"They're being extremely nice for a bunch of kidnappers, don't you think Scar?" Nicole asked when they were alone.

"Maybe," Scarlett was thinking about the men, they reminded her so much of Chris and Michael, but if it was them, why hadn't they said anything or given any sign? Maybe it wasn't actually them. It wouldn't be nice to jump into conclusion so early. She got dressed and left Nicole who was already sleeping; she sat at the bar and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Aren't you tired?"

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice was firm and demanding.

"Excuse me?"

"Who are you?" she repeated while staring at the men with all seriousness. The blond smiled at her as though he had remembered something when she said that. "What's with the mask?" she asked.

"The masks are just a precaution; no one would let us into that place if we came as ourselves, I doubt the people there know us besides you two, why not add a little action to the drama? Anyway, we came for only you and Nicole," he said and they took off their masks. Scarlett stared at them in shock. Nine years ago, Scarlett, Chris, Nicole and Michael were best friends; Scarlett and Chris were dempires while Nicole and Michael were lycan true bloods.

"You have got to be shitting me!" Scarlett said and hugged them. "You have no idea how much I've missed you guys," Scarlett said. They had been separated when Michael and Chris had to leave for Michael's next in line ritual and then they just couldn't come back, they couldn't have contact or even know about each other's whereabouts until now. "Wait till Nicole finds out,"

"You don't have to wait...I missed you so much," Nicole had woken up a while ago and when she didn't find Scarlett next to her, she went out to scold her but she didn't expect to see this. She hugged them both so tight. After nine years of being separated, they were finally reunited again. "Your faces haven't changed one bit," Nicole choked out with teary eyes. They talked and talked until Nicole finally gave up and slept.

"You should get some sleep Quinn, you've had a long day," Chris said. She hugged them again and gulped down the rest of her wine. Michael had already taken Nicole to the room. Scarlett stood in front of the full length mirror and smiled at herself. By the time the plane landed, it was already dawn.

"Let's go," Chris said.

"It's good to see you two again," a voice said. Looking ahead, a man with sleek black hair and eyes like the moon stood in front of the cars. 'You must be Mr. Quinn' Scarlett thought. She had read Michael's mind in the car. "Scarlett Nicole, I hope you enjoyed your trip," he said.

"It was great, now cut to the chase," Nicole said.

"What do you mean see us again?" Scarlett asked.

"I'm Mr. Quinn," he said. "We've met...though a very long time ago, you were very young,"

"What exactly are we doing here Mr. Quinn?"

"We'll talk about that once you've had a very relaxing sleep," he said. "Chris! Take them to the mansion, I'll be there later and Scarlett please do have a good rest, Michael tells me you haven't slept since your trip," the man vanished with a strict expression on his face. It was as though he was telling the men that if anything happened to the girls, he would kill them all. Scarlett turned to Michael who was standing beside the car with Chris; they were both smirking at her. After nine years, nothing had changed among them; they were still the best friends from childhood she remembered. They were just older now and nothing more. 'It would be nice to finally get some sleep' Scarlett thought and materialized in the car with Nicole sitting beside her.