by J. L. McCoy
He smiled, not unkindly, as he shifted from foot to foot. I smiled back and stepped to him. We had a tough time landing hits on each other, but some got through. After a roundhouse kick to his face, he landed a hard front kick to my stomach which sent me back peddling. Before I had time to recover, he had both hands wrapped around my throat. My Krav Maga training kicked in and I brought my arm up, locked his wrists down as I tucked my chin and brought my other arm around to deliver a hard elbow strike to his temple. He immediately let go of my throat and I grabbed his shoulders as I thrust my knee into his stomach five times before delivering another spinning elbow strike to his face.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man with the black hair come at me and I gave him a hard side hammer fist to the temple as I let go of Red. He stumbled back and I turned my attention to him. I threw out a kick and he stopped it cold. He twisted my leg to the side and I heard a snap; he had just cleanly broken my tibia and fibula.
“Agh!” I squeaked in pain as I hit the floor a few feet from where Oleif still laid. Our eyes met and his promised a severe ass kicking as soon as he was physically able. I didn’t want him anywhere near me so I lifted my hand and flicked my wrist in his direction. His body slid across the floor away from me and roughly hit the wall.
Black hair was now standing at my feet. I felt the healing tingle in my leg and was thankful that it was healing quickly. I needed to be at 100% and fast. The man wasted no time disabling my other leg with a hard stomp to my thigh. My femur snapped and so did I.
“Fuck!” I screamed as I felt my eyes flicker to black in my anger. “Quit breaking my fucking legs!”
The pain emanating from my thigh was incredible and I used my newfound power to push the black haired man away from me. I guess I put too much emotion behind my thought because he slammed into Red and they both went flying into the glass weapons case, breaking it with a loud crash.
The sound scared me and brought me back to reality. I was in the middle of a test and I needed to get a handle on my anger. If I lost control or seriously hurt these men, I would die myself. I took a few deep breaths as my femur healed and stood up as soon as it was whole again. I closed my eyes for a moment and focused on calming down. I felt my eyes flicker back to their normal colorlessness and I opened them just in time to see Oleif stalking toward me.
“You crushed my wind pipe,” he growled, his voice scratchy.
“Tit for tat, Oleif,” I smiled as I readied myself for his assault. “Doesn’t feel very good, does it?”
He growled as he engaged me. His strikes were focused and fast but I was faster. I blocked and moved, dodged and ducked with expert precision as he worked his way around me. I saw the black haired man coming toward me again and I took a knee, kicking Oleif’s knee out, and then turned to deliver an uppercut to Black. I stood up out of my crouch and punched him hard, using my leg power to deliver the blow. His body flew into the air and I lifted my hand, bringing his body to a stop and gently lowering it to the mat.
“Enough!” Ruarc commanded and all of us stood still.
Hagan ran over and checked on Black and nodded to Ruarc once his evaluation was complete. “He’s just knocked out, sir. No serious damage.”
“Impressive, Miss Morrison,” Ruarc appraised with narrowed, thoughtful eyes. “You took on three highly trained soldiers with ease. Not an easy feat… especially for a newborn.”
I took a deep breath and bowed my head respectfully, accepting his compliment.
“Your eyes did change during the fight, showing your anger, but you were able to suppress it quickly and continue on as normally as you had before,” he said.
The black haired man groaned and we all glanced over at him, watching him sit up. “You knocked me out?” he asked, confused and surprised.
“Well, you broke my legs,” I huffed, the pain still fresh in my mind.
Hagan helped the man stand and then came back over to my side as the soldiers lined up again behind Ruarc.
“The Test of Temperament is now complete,” Ruarc said, addressing his men. “I judge that the subject is adequately able to control her emotions. Her eyes did change during the test but quickly changed back. Although it is an area of concern, I do not deem her temperament dangerous. What say you?”
I closed my eyes as I awaited the room’s answer. I focused on the emotions around me and was surprised to find all but one agreed with Ruarc’s judgment. My eyes immediately found Oleif’s and we stared at each other for a few tense seconds. I didn’t think that man would ever come to accept me, no matter what I did.
“Agreed,” the men all said in unison as Oleif voiced the only nay.
“Miss Morrison, the test is now complete,” Ruarc addressed me. “If you will please head over to the coffin room, we will deliberate your fate and notify you when we have come to a unanimous decision.”
I swallowed thickly and tried to stifle the fear that coursed through me. My life was in these men’s hands now. “Yes, sir,” I bowed my head respectfully to Ruarc and then again to the other members of the Army of the Faithful.
I turned on my heels and went into the room where I had woken up, shutting the door gently behind me. I took note of the control I had over my movements now and smiled at the small victory. The room was pitch black, but with my superior vampire sight, I could see as well as I could in daylight. I walked over to the shelf on the wall and lit a match, putting the flame to the wick of a nearby candle.
I turned and viewed the stark room again. The coffin still sat in the same spot it did when I awoke but the lid was now on it. I gently ran my fingers over the carved wood and thought about everything that had happened to me since I took my first immortal breath almost twenty-four hours ago.
The door opened and I spun around to see Hagan walk in. He quietly shut the door behind him and took a seat in the wooden chair next to the coffin. His heavy sigh spoke volumes to me. He had been through just as much as I had. He was there fighting for me when Ruarc wanted to kill me moments after my rebirth and he was still here helping me get through all the crazy tests the Army was giving me. I watched as he silently leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees and tiredly hung his head.
I was so grateful for everything he had done for me. Without a second thought, I flashed over to him and threw my arms around his neck as I kneeled in front of him. He jerked in surprise but I didn’t let go.
“Thank you Hagan… for everything,” I whispered.
Slowly, he put his hand on my back and patted it a few times. “You’re welcome, Morrison.”
I let go and looked up into his wide brown eyes. My hug had unnerved him a bit. “How come you’re here with me and not out there with your brothers?”
Hagan sighed and twitched his lip, his version of a small smile. “I’m not a part of the decision process so I thought I’d come in here and see how you were holding up.”
I sat back on my heels and sighed as well. “I’m a wreck, Hagan. And I’m scared. I’m a total fucking freak of nature and I proved that to them in there.”
Hagan nodded. “You are kind of different,” he conceded with a tilt of his head.
“Kind of different? My eyes turn completely black, I can control my venom output, absorb Divine Powers, and go toe-to-toe with trained killing machines. ‘Kind of different’ left the building after I threw up the bagged blood.”
Hagan chuckled and I looked up at him in exasperation. “They’re going to kill me, aren’t they? How will they do it? Will they cut my head off? Dismember me and then burn the pieces?” I screeched, my panic starting to rise with each word.
“Breathe, Morrison,” Hagan sighed as he put one heavy hand on my shoulder to calm me. “You’re getting ahead of yourself, don’t you think?”
I sat down on my butt and put my head in my hands. “I think I’m going to puke.”
Hagan chuckled and said something in Gaelic as I felt him pat the top of my head. “You’ll make it through this, Morrison. Ruarc can be an assho
le sometimes, but he’s a fair asshole.”
I took a few deep breaths as silence filled the room. “Why do you care?” I asked suddenly. “I mean, you went to bat for me when you didn’t have to. You stood up for me, defended me, and trained me. Why bother?”
Hagan sighed and rubbed his right temple. “Why bother?” he scoffed. “Because I think you’re worth it, Morrison. There’s more to you than just a pretty face and a smart mouth. I saw your potential during our very first training session. You can imagine how surprised I was. Now quit worrying. You’re giving me a bloody headache.”
We were silent for a while and during that time I mastered the art of levitating two candles around the room at the same time. After setting the candles back in their holders, the coffin caught my eye again.
“Why did I wake up in a coffin, Hagan?” I asked curiously. “And why was it filled with dirt?”
Hagan sat up in his chair and glanced over at the coffin. “That coffin was the coffin your maker was reborn in. Archer’s father made it for him before he was turned. It’s kind of a tradition with Day Walkers, to have their children born in the same coffin they were.” Hagan saw the grimace on my face and he chuckled as he continued. “It’s not weird in our culture. What’s weird to me is being buried in the ground and waking up there. Imagine how frightening that is.”
“Is that why the dirt is in the coffin? Is it somehow needed for rebirth?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “The dirt is from Ireland, our home. The days are long gone where we bury our children and wait for them to rise from the ground. They are now placed in coffins upon the dirt of our native country. We try to stick to the ways of our father Aodhfin’s rebirth as much as we are able, though we modernize where we can.”
“Weird,” I pursed my lips, deep in thought. If I had to choose, I’d much rather wake up in a coffin instead of a grave. Just imagining myself having to claw my way out of the ground gave me chills.
There was a knock at the door and Hagan and I flashed to stand. The redheaded guy I had fought earlier asked me to come into the sparring room because a decision had been made regarding my life. I swallowed thickly and tried to calm my sudden sense of dread. I looked at the faces of those in the room as I entered, trying to gage any hint of my fate. Their faces gave nothing away so I used my new power of empathy. The only emotion I was picking up was calm resolution. Crap! I stopped in front of Ruarc and waited for him to speak; Hagan was at my side again thankfully.
“We were gathered here today to determine the authenticity of newborn vampire Skye Everleigh Morrison, daughter to Archer Rhys, leader of sliocht Fearchar and direct descendent of Cináed, blood son to the blessed one Aodhfin, the father of us all,” Ruarc commanded everyone’s attention. “After completing four sanctioned tests, her fate has been decided.” I watched as Ruarc took a step back and joined the Army in formation.
“Brothers of the Army of the Faithful, on this sixteenth day of the month of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, what say you to the immortal life of newborn vampire Skye Everleigh Morrison?”
I held my breath and watched as every man held their right arm out in front of them. They fisted their hands and held their thumbs out horizontally. My body started to shake with anticipation and if I had been human, I would have passed clean out; the tension in the room was palpable and completely stifling.
Long seconds passed as I waited. Finally, I saw hands start to move. This is it. I either live or die. I watched as every hand tilted their thumb up. I stared in shock. What does that mean? Yes to life or yes to death? I felt my panic start to rise and Ruarc stepped forward again.
“We have decided to let you live,” Ruarc said plainly. My knees immediately gave out upon hearing his words and I floated to the ground. Life. Living, breathing LIFE! I let out the breath I had been holding and sighed in immense relief.
Chapter Fifteen
“You are definitely a unique individual, Miss Morrison,” Ruarc continued, “but we see no cause to end your life at this time. You successfully passed our tests and you did it with dignity and a strength that impressed us all. Your skills are quite desirable, I must say. Would you ever consider fighting for the side of good and joining the Army of An Dilis?”
I felt my jaw drop and I stared at him like he had just grown an extra leg. “Are you serious? I’m just a bartender. And besides, I didn’t think you had any women in your Army.”
“We don’t. You would be the exception to the rule.”
What? That’s crazy! The thought of being around Oleif all the time made me immediately baulk at the idea. “As flattering as your proposition is, sir,” I sighed, “I just want to go back to my normal life.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible, Miss Morrison,” Ruarc shook his head. “You are a vampire now. Your life is going to drastically change whether you are ready for it or not. Don’t forget there is still the matter of Amun to handle. We won’t discuss it now, but I will be in touch with Archer later today. We will formulate a game plan, involving you, to take down Amun. Get some rest. You’re going to need it.”
I bit my bottom lip and tried to hold down my anxiety. “Seven days, Skye. And you had better be wearing the presents I left for you when you come to me.” Remembering Amun’s words brought me back to my new reality. Some ancient asshole monster was gunning for my hand in marriage and the blood of my maker and new family. Renewed feelings of anger coursed through me and I nodded my head. “I’m looking forward to it, sir.”
“I bet you are,” he nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He turned to his men and barked out an order in Gaelic. I watched as they all turned and flashed up the stairs, leaving the room empty except for me and Hagan.
I leaned forward and put my forehead to the cold, polished cement floor in relief. It’s over. It’s all over. I get to live. Hagan reached down and patted my shoulder. “I told you he was a fair asshole.”
With a tired chuckle, I let him pull me up and escort me upstairs. When I got to the foyer, I saw Archer shaking Ruarc’s hand.
“I’ll be in touch, Fearchar,” Ruarc bowed his head. “Take care of our girl.”
My eyes widened in surprise at his words. It seemed Ruarc now saw me as an asset and the revelation was stunning. To go from potentially being killed to liked in the space of a heartbeat sent my head reeling.
I watched Hagan escort him out the front door and I turned to Archer. We stared at each other for a few tense seconds, absorbing that I was actually still alive, before I smiled and ran to him. I jumped up into his strong arms and wrapped mine around his neck. I was suddenly flooded with feelings of happiness, gratitude, love, and relief.
“You did it, baby,” he whispered as he buried his face in my neck and took a deep breath in as I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist.
“I did,” I sighed, hugging him tighter. I was so happy to be back in his arms. “I don’t know how, but I did. That was so intense, Archer. I honestly didn’t think I’d walk out of that basement alive. I thought he was going to kill me as soon as he found out that I could absorb powers like Amun through the consumption of Day Walker blood.”
Archer lifted his head from my neck and set me down. He put both of his hands on my cheeks and delicately held me. “I heard,” he said as his eyes roamed my face, drinking me in. “Trey told us. Are you okay? Your face is bloody.”
I nodded my head and smiled. “I’m perfectly fine, Archer. It’s nothing. Oleif just packs a serious punch. He landed some pretty good hits on me, but you should have seen it… I crushed his windpipe like he did mine this morning. Man, was he pissed!”
Archer chuckled and wrapped his arms around me again. “I am so proud of you, Cion.”
“I have to be honest, I’m a little proud of me too,” I sighed, looking up at him. “I really started to lose it when Black broke my leg for the second time, but I focused on the things that Hagan taught me and quickly reined it in.”
“You had your leg br
oken?” Archer asked, worry furrowing his handsome brow.
“Twice,” I smiled brightly then shook my head, dismissing the comment. “I’m fine, honey; better than fine actually.”
Archer pulled me to his chest again and hugged me. “It was driving me crazy being up here knowing you were going through that all alone.”
“I had Hagan, thanks to you,” I whispered, rubbing my hands on his back, comforting him. “I wasn’t alone and you were always on my mind. I’m glad you weren’t down there, though. It wasn’t very pretty, honey.”
He kissed the top of my head and squeezed me a little tighter before finally letting go again, taking my hand. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
I allowed him to lead me into the living room where everyone was waiting. Seamus was the first to start clapping when he saw me and everyone else joined in. The emotions in the room were overwhelmingly happy and thankful.
“Looks like we ‘ave a wee warrior on our ‘ands,” he smiled proudly as he came up and patted me on the shoulder.
“Welcome to the family, deirfiúr,” Lochlan grinned, smacking my ass as I passed him.
“You’re quite the badass I hear,” Quinn smirked as he pulled me into a side hug.
“Maybe I can keep up with you now,” I winked at him as Aoife pulled me into a tight hug.
“Now, I’m really jealous of you,” she teased as she squeezed. “You were hot and smart before you turned, but now you’re hot, smart, and super talented. How’s a girl to compete with that?”
“It was never a competition,” Hunter winked at me over Aoife’s shoulder and I caught his double meaning by the look in his eyes. My brow twitched in surprise. Was Hunter flirting with me?
I let go of Aoife and went up to hug him. As he wrapped his arms around me, I was hit with a hurricane of emotions; pride, lust, relief, desire, happiness, longing, and contentment. Holy shit! Lochlan wasn’t the one who Oleif said lusted after me; it was HUNTER! All this time I thought it was Lochlan because he was so flirtatious. I was dead wrong apparently.