by J. L. McCoy
As I was opening the door, I heard a huge crash coming from Archer’s room and I dropped everything in my hands and ran to his door.
Chapter 12
“Archer!” I called as I pounded his door in a panic. I thought maybe the thing that had been killing the vampires had gotten into the house somehow and was attacking Archer.
Within a few seconds Archer was at the door, throwing it open. “Are you okay?” he barked fearfully, grabbing the tops of my arms and looking my body over for injuries.
I shook my head. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” I said dismissively. “Are you okay? I heard something in your room and I got scared.”
Archer sighed in relief and let go of me, taking a step back into his room. He motioned for me to enter and I did. His room was easily twice the size of mine. It was decorated in dark wood pieces, big, comfortable furniture, and warm earth tones. There were animal furs on the bed and on the floor in the sitting room. Archer’s room was completely masculine and I immediately felt at ease in it.
I looked over in the corner where his dresser was and saw that his flat screen television had been ripped from the wall and thrown back into it. It was badly damaged and a hole was left in the wall.
“Archer,” I said gently as I turned back to him. “What happened?”
He roughly ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, walking over to the bed and sitting down on the edge. “An Dílis called,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Treasach is dead. My brother…is dead. They’re all dead,” he said, burying his face in his hands.
I gasped at the news and hurried over to him. “Oh, Archer,” I whispered as I tentatively reached up and put my hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, honey.”
Archer’s body trembled and I stepped closer and gently pulled his head to my chest. He wrapped his arms around me tightly as he mourned the loss of his only living original brother. I stroked his hair as he buried his head deeper into my chest, muffling his agony. I never could see a grown man cry without crying myself, so I wasn’t surprised when the tears flowed freely from my eyes.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered gently as I held him tighter. “We’ll get who did this and we’ll make him pay. I promise.”
Archer held on to me for a few more minutes as I comforted him the best way I knew how. When his trembling had lessened and his muffled cries were no more, I gently pulled back and looked into his eyes. They were red rimmed and full of the deepest sadness that I had ever seen in my life. That one look seemed to break my heart into a million pieces. I hurt for him.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked softly as I searched his eyes. “Tell me. I’d do anything to take your pain away.” I realized how broad the word ‘anything’ was after I said it, but I found that I had actually meant it. I WOULD do anything to take Archer’s pain away. I couldn’t stand to see him hurt the way he was.
Archer shook his head and laid it back down on my chest. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “You’re doing it, Skye,” he said with raw honesty. “I needed you and you were here for me. You’ve shared in my pain as no one else could. I can’t ever let my sons see me break down like this. A leader never shows their weaknesses. It’s been ingrained in me for over a thousand years. I can’t thank you enough for being here with me…for comforting me.”
I pressed my lips to the top of his head and sighed. “I meant it when I said that I’d do anything for you, Archer. I’m always here if you need me. You don’t have to go through things like this on your own.” He nodded his head and hugged me tighter. “And next time come get me,” I said as I slowly pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You don’t need to take it out on the poor television.”
Archer turned his head and looked over at the mess he made. He cursed under his breath and turned back to me. “I just got that television.” His brow suddenly furrowed and he reached his hand up, gripped my chin, and turned my face to the right. “What the hell happened to you?” he asked, turning my face to the left. He growled, stood up, and lifted my arms, turning me around. “You are covered in bruises, Skye.”
I chuckled and put my arms down. “Uh, yeah,” I said turning back to face him. “Hagan happened. What did you think was going to ensue when you chose Hagan’s big ass to train me? That guy is wicked fierce and a total badass.”
Archer growled protectively and I shushed him. “I loved every minute of my training with him. He kicked my ass, but he also treated me like a person and not just some girl. I asked for every bruise he gave me and I thanked him for them when he was done. I’ve waited years to have a teacher treat me fairly.” I blushed and looked down at my hands. “You did something amazing for me today and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Archer.”
“You look like a battered woman, Skye,” he rumbled.
“Oh hush,” I said dismissively. “It’s not that bad, is it?”
Archer growled his displeasure lowly and leaned in to caress my cheek. “Please make sure to have Jameson heal you tonight,” he said and licked his lips. “I can’t stand to see you covered in battle scars.”
I smiled at the word battle scars and unconsciously leaned into his feather-light touch.
Archer sighed and his mood sobered again; his brow furrowed when he spoke. “I have to call a meeting today before work and inform everyone about Treasach.”
I gently pulled him over to the cream loveseat in his master suite and made him sit down with me. “Honey, tell me. What happened over there in Scotland and why did it take them until just now to inform you? They went last night, didn’t they?”
Archer sighed and reached over to hold my hand. “An Dílis waited until they were back in Ireland to notify me. Things were complicated. They entered Treasach’s compound early this morning and there was no one guarding the gate. When they searched the house and the grounds, they found Treasach and his family. They had been murdered in the same manner as those here in the States.”
I put my hand to my mouth and shook my head. “Oh God, Archer…that’s horrible.”
He looked over at me sadly. “Aye,” he said as he shook his head also. “Fourteen members of my family were brutally snuffed out…and for what? I can’t understand why this…this thing is killing us. What did we ever do to anyone?”
I patted his hand, trying to comfort him. I would have no answers for him, but he must have known that.
“Their bodies were in pieces,” he whispered after a long moment. “They found parts of Treasach’s wife strewn across a whole acre.” He sighed and shook his head, his face etched with extreme sadness. “They had lain there, undiscovered, for three weeks. Do you know what that does to me? To know that my own brother lay in pieces for weeks and I did not know? He was the only person that I had left. I grew up as a vampire with him. We experienced life together, love together, war together. He has been a part of my life for over thirteen hundred years. How do I even begin to say goodbye to him?”
I sat there and stared at him for a moment. Archer had never been this open with me before and I desperately wanted him to feel at ease enough to do it again in the future. I swallowed hard and reached up to run my fingers through his hair. “The creation of your race is steeped in religion, so I think a good place to start would be going to a church and lighting a candle for each of them. Prayer is a powerful thing, Archer. I think we could all use it right now.”
He sighed as he closed his beautiful blue eyes and leaned into my light touch. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll go this evening on my way to The Mausoleum.”
“When are you going to call the meeting with everyone?” I asked as I slowly dropped my hand.
He opened his eyes, cupped my cheek and leaned in to softly kiss my forehead before getting up off the couch. “I need to call them now. I won’t be able to summon Jameson, so I’ll have to tell him tonight when he comes home.”
“Would you like me to call a repair man for the wall and order another television for you?” I asked standing
up too.
Archer managed a small smile and nodded his head. “Would you? And would you summon Trey for me in about twenty minutes? Have him meet me in the family room. I need to call the rest of my children now.”
“Of course,” I said as I got up and turned to leave.
“Skye?” Archer called and I turned around to face him, a questioning look on my face. He groaned as he took in my wounds again. “You can’t go into work like that. Your bruises are darkening by the minute. They look really bad.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do?” I asked, holding my hands out at my sides. “Jameson said that he wouldn’t be done until after 1am. I can’t be healed until I see him.”
Archer managed a small smile. “Take the night off. You haven’t had one since you started working for me and you deserve it.”
“But, won’t you need me?” I asked worriedly. “With Trey working the door and with Seamus and Jameson gone…”
Archer walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “Relax, love,” he said gently. “We will manage, I promise.”
I bit my lip and nodded. “If you’re sure…okay,” I said reluctantly. “Does that mean I can go do my own thing tonight?”
Archer froze and studied me. “I suppose. But, will you take one of The Faithful with you?”
I shook my head. “Nuh-uh. No way, Archer. That monster is after you and there is no way I’m pulling a guard from your family. You need them more than I do.”
“But he killed Jesse,” Archer growled, suddenly furious. “He may come after you, too.”
I flinched at the mention of Jesse’s name and briefly closed my eyes at the sharp pain in my chest. “We don’t know why Jesse was killed. He is the only human so far and I highly doubt that I am next.”
“Don’t be naïve, Skye,” he scoffed.
“Don’t be overbearing and overprotective, boss man,” I said gently cupping his face. “I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine. I’m just going to go run some errands and maybe catch a live show. I won’t do anything too dangerous or daring, okay? I promise.”
Archer growled his displeasure and I quickly brushed my lips across his cheek to silence him.
“I’ll have my phone on me and you can call to check up on me as many times as you’d like.”
Archer nodded his head but didn’t look too happy with me. He growled one last time and I turned to smile at him as I opened the door. “I’m going to call a repair man and take a shower. Please call me if you need me tonight. I’m always here for you honey.”
He nodded again. “By the way, which car can I take tonight?” I asked, stopping short and turning around.
Archer walked over to his nightstand and retrieved a set of keys. “Have fun,” he said as he tossed them to me.
I recognized the Audi logo on the keychain and grinned. “You’re the best, you know that?”
He nodded his head and smiled crookedly. “I know. Now get out of here before I change my mind and lock you in this house where it’s safe.”
I gave him one last smile and blew him a kiss before I walked out.
I walked across the hall, picked up my water and apple, and stepped into the spacious guest room. I got out my laptop and sat on the chase lounge to peruse the online yellow pages for a repair man. I found one located on this side of the lake and called him. We scheduled for him to come out tomorrow morning between 11 and noon. Next, I called a local electronics store and ordered a replacement television for Archer’s room. I ended up getting really lucky. The salesman was nice and told me that a previous customer had just purchased a 42 inch television and thought it was too small when the company delivered it to their house. I ended up getting it for half price since it was out of the box. I thanked him for letting me know, happily put it on the company charge card and scheduled to have them deliver it tomorrow morning.
Pleased that everything had been taken care of fairly quickly, I checked the time and put my laptop away. I rewashed my apple and went outside to find Trey as I hungrily ate it. He was still lounging by the pool, a dainty drink in his hand, and he was still talking to Pádraig. They both turned to me and Pádraig seemed startled. He mumbled something to Trey and turned to resume his walk of the grounds.
“What was that all about?” I asked between a mouthful of crisp Fiji.
Trey smiled and pursed his lips. “Nothing.”
I winked at him and sat down on the foot of his lounger. “Uh-huh,” I said playfully then remembered why I came to get him. My face instantly sobered and I swallowed hard. “Um, honey…Archer needs to see you.”
Trey immediately sat up and stared quietly at me for a moment. “Sorrow,” he whispered to himself and I slowly nodded my head. “What happened?”
I shook my head and turned away from his penetrating gaze. “It’s not my place to say honey, I’m sorry. Just go find Archer. He is calling a house meeting.”
Trey got up from his lounger, absentmindedly thanked me and flashed inside.
I finished the rest of my apple out in the sunshine by the pool before finally dragging myself inside to take a shower. There was no one in the house as I made my way to my room and I stopped outside my bedroom door, momentarily staring at Archer’s office. I briefly wondered if everyone was in there for the meeting before I shook my head and walked through my door.
At the sight of my face in the bathroom mirror, I stopped short. My left cheek was horribly bruised and swollen and my neck was discolored in a few spots, too. I smiled at the memory of how I received them and got undressed. I took in the array of bruises on my arms, hips, legs, and back before jumping in the shower. The hot spray felt wonderful on my aching muscles and I took my time relishing it. After I was done I quickly dried off, threw on my robe and did my hair and makeup. I took special care applying cover-up and liquid base to the worst of my bruises. You could still see the bruise on my cheek through all the gunk, but I didn’t care. I was proud of my bruises.
I shed the robe and walked into my closet, selecting a pair of grey skinny cords, a vintage black Motörhead concert t-shirt and my white Doc Marten boots, and hastily got dressed. I stuffed my phone in my back pocket, grabbed the keys to the Audi and my messenger bag and walked out of the room.
I heard soft weeping coming from the family room and paused before I walked in. Trey was sitting on the sofa with his face in his hands. The crying was coming from him. I saw Aoife return from the kitchen carrying a box of tissues and she looked up at me as she handed them to Trey.
“You can come in Skye,” Archer said with a tired sigh.
My brow furrowed when I took in the seven despondent faces in the room and I slowly walked in. “I…I didn’t mean to disturb you in the middle of your meeting. I was just leaving,” I said swallowing thickly. The sadness in the room was palpable and I didn’t want to bother them any further.
“Be careful and call me if you need me,” Archer said to me before turning back to the group.
I nodded my head and quietly slinked out of the room and into the garage. Poor Trey, I thought as I hit the button on the Audi keys and got into the car. Poor everyone. This is just horrible. I backed out of the garage and waved to Marcán as I turned and dove down the drive.
Chapter 13
When I got out onto the highway, I opened up the R8. Archer’s car was unbelievably fast and responsive to the slightest touch of my hands or feet. I was grinning ear to ear by the time I hit my first red light, forgetting momentarily about my worries.
“Oh my…I think I love you,” I purred as I affectionately stroked the car’s sleek dashboard and steering wheel. I turned on the radio and found a station playing a Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac music marathon and happily sang along to the sultry voice of my dog’s namesake.
I made my way downtown and parked the Audi in a public parking garage. I decided to run a few much needed errands and stopped at a corner drug store to get a few things. After that, I hit up Shifty’s Thrifty Threads and found an awesome vintage Metallica concert
t-shirt that I just absolutely couldn’t live without. As I was walking into Bevo’s Bargain Basement of Books across the street, I ran into my friend Sissy who was just exiting.
“Skye! Ah!” she happily squealed as she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. “I haven’t seen you since finals week, stranger! How’ve you been?”
I smiled and hugged her back. “I’ve been good, girl! How’ve you been? Did you ever hear back about that job?”
Sissy Schneider and I had a History class together freshman year and we became friends through one of the late night study group sessions that she held in her dorm room once a week. She was pretty wild and carefree like me, so it had always been an easy friendship for us. Study sessions were never easy on the boys in our group, though. Sissy was easily the prettiest girl in our graduating class, but she was always oblivious to her looks. A tom boy at heart, she had wavy, shoulder length brown hair, green eyes, and a smile that lit up the room. The boys in school always referred to her as ‘The Body’ because hers was pretty bangin’, I’ll be the first to admit.
She wasn’t like most girls. She wasn’t into fashion or makeup and isn’t normally boy crazy. Sissy was always pretty down to earth and got along with most everyone. She was tough little cookie, though. When she graduated high school, her parents told her that they’d buy her a car. She asked for a chromed out Harley Davidson Fatboy with screaming eagle pipes instead. It took a change in her major, but her parents finally gave in. They didn’t want her majoring in Philosophy like she had planned, so she chose a respectable and recession proof major instead; she got her Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development to become a teacher. Of course, I don’t think she really wanted to be a teacher; she was just appeasing her parents.