Blood of the Son (Book #1 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series) (Skye Morrison Series) (3 page)

I walked up the stairs and into my bedroom.  I kicked off my shoes, quickly undressed, and stepped into the tub for a quick shower before bed.  I was exhausted from the stresses of the day and couldn’t wait to hop into my comfortable canopy bed and drift off to sleep.  I dried off, gave my hair a quick blow dry, grabbed a pair of boy shorts and a white tank top, and got dressed for bed.

“Styvi Nix!” I called and let out a low whistle.  I heard her bound up the stairs and into my room.  She flew up the pet steps and into my arms.  “You’re such a good girl, Styvi,” I said as I lifted up the covers to let her snuggle under.  “Good night, Sweat Pea.” I reached over and turned off the bed side lamp and snuggled into my pillow.  I was asleep before I knew it.

I awoke at noon and stumbled down stairs for my morning cup of tea.  Skyvi Nix was at the bottom of the stairs curled up in her black skull doggie bed, softly snoring.  I filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove to heat up.  I walked over to the cabinet, selected a coffee mug, and sighed as I remembered the worries of yesterday.  “I have to find a job,” I mumbled, running my fingers through my hair.

I heard my BlackBerry chime and walked over to retrieve it from my messenger bag.  I had received eight text messages since last night and began reading each of them.  Three were from Mom asking if I was still planning on coming down for great aunt Anne’s 79
^th
birthday bash next month.  I smiled at her persistence.  I text her back and told her that I wouldn’t miss it for the world.  The next few were from my tenacious stalker/ex-boyfriend Jesse.  I rolled my eyes and deleted the drivel.  That boy was just plain thick in the head.  The last and latest text message was from Nikki.

“Sorry Cupcake…can’t make it later.  Had to make a last minute appt. for 6pm.  Some guy wants me to start a custom back piece.  Sah-weet!  Can’t pass this up! 
J
  Call u later, k?  xoxo”

I was a bit bummed that we couldn’t hang out later, but I was delighted that she was tattooing again.  Art was Nikki’s life.  It soothed her wild ways, she once told me.  I was happy that she was expressing herself and sharing her talent with others.  She was an incredible artist and a mind-blowing tattooist.  I couldn’t wait to get another piece done by her.

I text her back. 

“No worries, girl!  Have an awesome day! 
J
  TTYL.”

The kettle slowly crescendoed and I walked over and took it off the burner.  I cut the stove off, walked over to the cupboard and retrieved a bag of my favorite mint tea.  I dropped it into my cup and filled it full of water.  I bent over the mug and took a deep breath in.  I loved the smell of mint tea.

I pulled out the book I was currently reading from my messenger bag, prepared to pick up where I left off while I slowly enjoyed my first cup of tea, and noticed that I forgotten to grab the classifieds off of Dan’s desk last night.  “Crap,” I said, under my breath.  I didn’t want to have to buy another paper just for the classifieds, so I decided that my first stop today would be Drop Kick Dan’s so I could get the one from yesterday.  I quickly drank my tea and went upstairs to wash my face, brush my teeth, and put on my makeup.  I decided that since I was going to be downtown, I might as well walk around, visit a few of my favorite Thrift stores, and do some window shopping.  It had been a while since I had a completely free day and I was looking forward to it. 

I exited my bathroom and walked over to the big walk-in closet.  I decided to be comfortable today and chose a vintage Led Zeppelin concert t-shirt, low-rise ripped skinny jeans, and my white Doc Marten boots.  I got dressed, walked back in the bathroom to grab my lip gloss and stopped in front of the mirror to fix my eyeliner.

I had always been told that I was pretty, but I was never the kind of person who really believed it.  I was slim, but curvaceous and perky in all the right places.  I stood right at 5 feet 7 inches tall, had waist length naturally red hair, and light hazel-green eyes.  I liked body art and sported several ear piercings and a few strategically placed tattoos. 

I grabbed my lip gloss, gave it a quick back and forth swipe over my full lips and was ready to go.  I walked downstairs, fed Styvi Nix, grabbed my keys, cell phone, and my messenger bag from the kitchen table, and walked out the door going to the garage.  I hopped into my car and headed out.   I found a good Sublime song on the radio and jammed out on the short drive downtown to Drop Kick’s.

I walked into Dan’s office at around 1:30pm.  He looked up from his paperwork and was surprised when he saw it was me.  “Hey doll face!  What are you doing here on your day off?” he asked.

“Hey, handsome,” I replied. “I forgot to grab the classifieds from you yesterday before I left.  Do you still have them?” I asked

“I’ll do you one better.  I’ve got today’s paper,” he answered as he started rummaging through all the junk on his desk.  “Ah, here it is,” he said and handed me today’s job ads.

“Thanks a heap, D.,” I said and gave him a happy high-five.

“Any time, Skye.  So, what are your plans for today?”

I told him about my shopping plans and we chatted for a few minutes more.  I excused myself when our newest bar back, Roger, came in and requested access to the bar stockroom.  I saluted Dan and Roger as I walked out the back door. 

It was a gorgeous, sunny, late May day and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  I walked a few blocks west to Shifty’s Thrifty Threads and searched through the racks for vintage band t-shirts.   One Billy Idol, Rebel Yell t-shirt later, I was leaving a very happy girl.

I walked 2 blocks north and spotted a new club under construction.  Four men were carefully hoisting up a huge red neon sign that read “The Mausoleum”.  That sounded pretty cool and I told myself that I’d have to be sure to come back when it opens up and check it out.  Maybe I’d drag Nikki with me.

I stopped by the coffee house, Afterburner’s, and grabbed a large Skinny Mocha Macchiato and a Bran-Craisin muffin.  I sat down outside at one of their small bistro style patio tables and pulled out today’s job classifieds.  Discouragement set in after only 10 minutes.  I wasn’t seeing any jobs that had to do with my major.  There were plenty of secretarial jobs, though, and I circled a few of those to revisit later.

I was enjoying the last few sips of my macchiato when I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder.

I turned around and almost choked to death.  There stood Jesse Prescott, tenacious stalker/ex-boyfriend and asshole extraordinaire.

 “What the fuck, Jesse?!” I exclaimed, putting down my cup and grabbing a napkin to wipe my mouth. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you, Skye.  I was across the street at The Oven getting a slice of pizza when I saw you sitting over here,” he said remorsefully as he held his hands out in a placating way. 

“Geez, Jesse.”  I shook my head, annoyed. “What do you want?  What more do we possibly have to say to each other?”

He brushed his long, dirty-blond hair out of his brown eyes and rubbed his right temple.  “Why won’t you return my calls or texts?  Why do you keep ignoring me?” he asked, frustrated.

“Because I have shit to say to you Prescott, that’s why!” I said trying to keep my voice low as the anger started to build.  “It’s been 2 months since I caught you snogging that trashy tourist, …in MY bar no less!  I said everything I had to say to you that night.”

Jesse looked around and noticed that people were starting to stare.  He pulled out the adjoining bistro chair and sat down.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked incredulously. 

“Stop being such a bitch, Skye, and hear me out,” he whined.

“Get bent, Jesse.  The only word I want to hear come out of your mouth is ‘Goodbye’,” I said, tiring of this game.  I grabbed my messenger bag and started packing up my things that were scattered on the table. 

Jesse grabbed my hand and brought it to his heart.  “Please, Skye, just listen to me,” he pleaded, his eyes starting to tear up.

I sighed and let him continue, against my better judgment.

“I fucked up.  I fucked up bad.  I was drunk and mad at you for flirting with that loser Christoph.  I picked up with that tourist to make you mad and I didn’t realize how far things were spiraling out of control until it was too late.”

“God, Jesse.  You’re such a dumb ass,” I said, yanking back my arm and crossing them over my chest.  “Christoph is Nikki’s cousin’s gay neighbor and he happens to own Razor Salon,” I explained, exasperated.  “He does Nikki’s hair and I was talking to him about making an appointment for me later that week.”

“How in the hell did you expect me to know that?” he asked defensively.

“You should know me better than that, Jesse.  We’ve been together for almost a year.  Why would I suddenly start flirting with strange men while I’m at work…and with YOU there?” I asked, raising my voice.  I shook my head at his absurdity and continued packing up my stuff.  “That’s just asinine thinking, Jesse.  You really ought to lay off the pot.” 

I closed up my messenger bag and was just about to get up when he suddenly dropped down on his knees and started begging. 

“Please take me back, Skye.  I really love you and I don’t want lose you.  I think you were the best thing that ever happened to me.  You can’t just throw away what we have, damn it,” he cried, looking completely dejected.  He gazed deep into my eyes and pleaded with me. “Please, Skye.”

I looked around the small patio and noticed everyone staring.  “Please get back in your chair, Jess,” I said quietly, completely embarrassed by the unwanted attention.  He did as I asked and waited with baited breath for me to give him an answer. 

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed.  “Jesse, we had a good 10 months.  You are sweet and funny and I had a great time with you…but we can’t continue our relationship,” I said softly.

He started to speak but I held up my index finger and motioned for him to wait. 

“You don’t trust me, obviously,” I continued.  “If you don’t trust me, you don’t know me.  And, if you don’t know me after 10 months, you never will, Jesse.” I sighed.  “I can’t have you accusing me of things I would never do while I was with you, and I sure as hell can’t have you using trashy floozies against me.  It’s just not very mature, Jess.”

He looked at me, shocked. “Not very mature?!” he repeated angrily, startling me.  

I shook my head and started getting up from my chair.  “I can’t do this with you, Jesse.  You asked me to talk to you and I did.  You know how I feel now and you are just going to have to work through understanding those feelings on your own.”  I sighed, grabbed my messenger bag and swung it over my shoulder. 

“Damn it, Skye, I’m NOT done talking to you!” he shouted as he roughly pushed me back down into the chair.

I was completely appalled and stunned by his behavior towards me.  He had never been violent in the past and I suddenly felt like I had no idea who this person was.  It took a few seconds, but I regained my composure and was about to let that asshole have it when I heard a voice coming from directly behind me. 

“Didn’t anyone teach you manners, boyo?” a masculine, deep Irish accent asked.  “You shouldn’t be handling a lady like that…it’s not polite.” 

“Hey, fuck you!” he shouted furiously, pointing his finger in the stranger’s direction.  “Didn’t anyone ever teach you not to butt into other people’s affairs?”

I turned around and saw who had come to my rescue.  When I looked up, I expected to see someone of average height, and was surprised to meet a towering figure.  I had to shield my eyes from the sun to get a good look at him.  He was easily over 6 feet tall and he was lean, wearing a long sleeved white dress shirt, with the top two buttons undone, tucked into black dress pants.  I was just about to tell the stranger that it was okay, I was just leaving, when I looked up into his face and was struck completely speechless. 

Never, in my 23 years, had I seen a more beautiful man in person.  He was absolutely stunning.  I’m talking Dolce & Gabbana male model stunning.  He appeared to be around 32 or so and had luminously pale skin, and medium length, expertly coiffed gelled brown hair.  Just a dab of gray hair dappled around each temple and he sported rugged stubble on his chiseled face. He took off his Aviator sun glasses and revealed insanely gorgeous, bright, ice blue eyes.  They were breath taking.  It was almost as if they glowed, demanding your unwavering attention.  There was something about him that was instantly calming, almost familiar in a way, and it made me feel safe.

“I believe the lady said she was done talking to you, mate.  Best to run along now,” the man said, sounding a little bored. 

I suddenly found my voice and pulled my gaze away from the stranger’s mesmerizing eyes.  “Jesse, I have nothing more to say to you,” I said severely, looking up at his furious red face.  “Stop calling me and coming by Drop Kick’s.  Get over it already!  I’m done with you and this whole psycho mess.”  I got up from the chair, walked out the café’s short metal patio gate and continued down the city sidewalk.  I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves and quickly pounded the pavement.

“Oy! Hold on, now,” the stranger called out to me as I heard footsteps coming up from behind.