The Original Sin (Skye Morrison Vampire Series, #3) (14 page)

Jameson was back inside and he had a happy Styvi Nix sitting beside him on the couch.

“Hey girl,” I greeted her as I walked in.  She jumped down and trotted over to me.  I sat down on the floor with her and loved on her for a few seconds as Jameson watched.

“Your bruises look bad,” he said quietly.  “Would you like me to heal you?”

“These are badges of honor,” I smiled proudly as I hugged Styvi.  “You should have seen the bruises on Hagan.”

“I’ll take that as a no then,” he said as he abruptly got up and left the room. 

I looked over at Trey, my brow furrowed in confusion.  “What’s wrong with him?” I asked.

Trey gave me a meaningful look and pursed his lips, obviously unhappy with me. 

“What?” I asked, growing irritated.  “What did I do?”

“You broke his heart,” Trey huffed as he got up and followed after Jameson.

I let go of Styvi and she immediately followed after Jameson, too.  I sighed as I shook my head.  “I’m sorry,” I quietly whispered to myself. 

I stood up and noticed everyone staring at me.  Aoife and Archer were still at the kitchen table and the rest of the guys were a few feet away playing poker.  Everyone but Archer and Aoife had a look of disappointment and blame on their faces.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I huffed as I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder.  “I don’t judge your lives or your choices, so don’t you dare try and judge mine.”

I quickly made my way over to Archer and told him I’d be back at the club tonight a little after we opened.  He nodded sympathetically and told me to be careful.  I smiled tightly at him and made my way out the front door.

When I got outside, Pádraig was the first guard I saw and I asked him if he would mind accompanying me to class.  He politely obliged with a nod and told me to wait where I was.  I saw him flash around the house and disappear.  About a minute later, the garage door opened and the Escalade pulled out.

“Sorry it took so long,” he said quietly as I climbed in the front seat.  “I had to notify the others and get the keys.”

I smiled and thanked him for escorting me as he accelerated down the drive.  I took out my phone and quickly texted Nikki to let her know I was on the way and that I was bringing company.  She quickly texted me back and I put my phone away after reading it.

“Your boyfriend is mad at me,” I said eventually when the silence became too awkward to bear.

“I know,” Pádraig said, never taking his eyes off the road.  He sighed and relaxed his shoulders somewhat.  “Trey has a real soft spot for Jameson.  Jameson was the one who found Trey when he was near death and saved his life.  It hurts Trey to see someone he loves and thinks so highly of in pain.  He loves you Skye, don’t get me wrong, but he also loves Jameson.”

I sighed and massaged my right temple.  “Do you think I did the wrong thing by breaking up with him?” I asked him.

“That’s not for me to say,” Pádraig shook his head.  “I know you had your reasons, however rushed and devoid of thought they were.”

“Ouch, Pádraig,” I mumbled, before sarcastically adding, “Tell me how you really feel.”

“I’m sorry,” he said immediately.  “It’s not my place.”

“No,” I sighed.  “You’re right.  I did rush into it.  I was just really hurt and angry at the time.  But, can you imagine what that was like for me yesterday?  I was hurt again by vampires and I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

Pádraig nodded.  “I know how you felt, Skye.  I could hear your anger, confusion and pain as it was happening.”

I shuddered involuntarily and stared out the window as I replayed what happened to me in that east Austin basement and what Archer and Hunter did to me yesterday.

“Stop thinking about it,” Pádraig said suddenly and I sighed as I remembered that he could hear my thoughts too.  “It’s not going to help.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, looking over at him. 

“Don’t apologize, Skye; just try not to do it.  You won’t get over it if you keep dwelling on the past.  There is nothing you can do to change the events as they happened.”

“You sound like you know from experience.”

“I do,” he said simply as he reached over to turn on the radio.

The rest of the drive was silent as we listened to Pearl Jam.  As Pádraig pulled the Escalade into my driveway, Nikki walked out of her half of the townhouse.

“Hey, cupcake!” she smiled brightly as I got out of the car.  She ran up to me and pulled me in for a tight hug.  “We’re going to have so much fun.  Everyone has missed you at class.  Instructor Cohen called me today and asked if he should expect you.  I happily told him you’d be there.”

“Thanks, Nik,” I said, squeezing her back. 

When she let go, she looked back at my face and frowned.  “What the hell happened to your face, girl?”

“A friend of Archer’s was teaching me some new hand-to-hand combat techniques today.  It got real…interesting,” I smiled widely.  “No big deal, honey.”

Nikki immediately looked over to Pádraig and narrowed her eyes.  “Was this the friend?” she asked unhappily.  I knew by the gleam in her eyes that she’d try to kick his ass if he had been.

I chuckled and shook my head.  “No, no.  That’s Pádraig.  He works with Archer and wanted to tag along to check out Israeli Krav Maga.  He’s never seen it,” I lied quickly and prayed my best friend and the person who knew me the best wouldn’t notice.

“Hi, Pádraig,” Nikki said as she went to shake his hand and I sighed in relief.  “I’m Nikki.  Nice to meet you.”

“And you,” Pádraig said, taking her hand.

“Let me go grab my bag and lock up the house and we can get on the road.”

“Okay,” I said as I watched her walk back to her half of the building.  “I’m going to run inside and get my Reeboks.”

Pádraig followed me to my front door and I dug around in my bag for my keys.  Finally finding them, I unlocked the door and moved to step inside.

“I should check out the house before you go in,” Pádraig said and I nodded my head in agreement. 

“Pádraig, please come in,” I said quickly, inviting him into my house.  He wouldn’t have been able to enter without my invitation.  I briefly wondered why that was and reminded myself to ask someone later.

Pádraig flashed into my house and suddenly stopped by my couch.  He took a deep breath in and immediately turned back to me.

“Get back in the car.  Do not ask questions.  Go!” he said hurriedly as he pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and flashed into the kitchen. 

I dropped by messenger bag in panic and ran as fast as I could back to the black Escalade.  I hurriedly got in and hit the automatic door lock button.  My heart was pounding furiously as I waited for Pádraig to emerge. 
What did he find in my house
? I briefly pondered as I stared anxiously at my door.

A few minutes later, Pádraig emerged from the house with a serious frown on his face.  He had my black Reeboks in hand as he shut the door, locked it, and picked up my messenger bag from the ground.

“What’s going on?” I asked hurriedly as he slid into the seat.

He shut the door and sighed.  He looked over at me with sympathetic eyes and swallowed hard before answering.  “I don’t want to alarm you, but you’ve had a visitor in the last few days.”

“Tell me,” I said, alarmed as hell.

“Amun has been in your house,” he said quietly.

“What?!”

“Take a deep breath and attempt to stay calm,” Pádraig said, turning to me.  “I’ve alerted Ruarc and the rest of
An Dílis
.  They will be here in a few hours.  I’ve also contacted Archer and he has requested that you return to his house immediately.”

“No,” I shook my head, still in shock.  “I promised Nikki we would go to class.  I’m not backing out on her.  I need to spend time with my best friend.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Morrison,” Pádraig said with a frown, “but this is not open for debate.  I promised Archer that I would bring you back and I am sworn to protect and obey him.”

I looked dejectedly at Nikki’s door, but nodded my head in agreement knowing an argument with Pádraig was pointless.  Trey would kill him, if Archer didn’t first, if he disobeyed and let me go to class.

“I have to tell Nikki,” I said as I moved to get out of the car. 

“Stay!” Pádraig commanded sternly.  “We will wait for her to come out.  You are not to get out of this car, for any reason, until we are back at Mr. Rhys’ place.”

I nodded my head and only had to wait a few seconds before Nikki emerged.  Pádraig rolled down my window as Nikki called out.

“Sorry, cupcake,” she apologized.  “Lyric called me on the house phone.”

“Nikki,” I said and her brow immediately furrowed with worry.

“Honey, what’s wrong?  What is it?”

I swallowed hard and apologized.  “Something has come up and I need to go back to Archer’s.  I’m so sorry I can’t make class today.”

“What?” Nikki asked, confused.  “What do you mean something came up?”

“There is a work emergency which requires her immediate attention,” Pádraig said smoothly.  “I apologize, but we must go.”  With that he put the Escalade in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

“Pádraig!” I yelled as he put the car in drive.  I watched Nikki wave confusedly to me as she watched us go.  “What the hell?  That was so rude!”

“We don’t have time for this,” he said quickly.  “You are in an active area of danger and it is my job to remove you from it as quickly as possible.  I am familiar with Amun’s fighting strategies and I fear I will not be able to adequately protect you on my own.  Be angry with me if you must, but at least you will be alive to feel those emotions.”

I took a deep breath as the gravity of the situation hit me.  Amun was back and he had been in my house!

“How did he get in my house?” I asked suddenly.  “He did not have my permission to enter.  I thought all vampires required permission to enter a human’s home.”

“They do,” Trey said, looking straight at the road.  “And I do not know how he gained entry into your home.  It goes against everything we know.”

“Shit,” I breathed as we sped toward Archer’s.

When we pulled up, we were met outside by the whole house.  Hagan, Killian and Emrick immediately flanked the Escalade and watched the driveway to see if we were followed.

“The route here was secure, as far as I could tell,” Pádraig said to Hagan as he came around the car.

Archer opened my door and took my hand.  “Are you okay?” he asked as he pulled me into his arms.

I nodded my head and looked up at him.  “How did he get into my house, Archer?  He didn’t have my permission.”

“I don’t know, baby,” he said worriedly as he placed a soft, lingering kiss on my forehead and took a deep breath.  His cell phone started vibrating in his pocket and he stepped back from me to answer it.

I walked toward the gathering of vampires and accepted the rare pats of comfort on my back from the guys.  I watched as Trey went over to talk to Pádraig and turned back just in time to greet Aoife as she was walking toward me.

“We can’t let you out of our sight for a second, can we?” she asked, her tone light and playful but her face conveying the fear she felt.

“I guess not,” I sighed.

She stepped up next to me and comfortingly rubbed my back for a second before she went to talk to Pádraig as well.

Jameson stood awkwardly a few feet away and I immediately went up to him and threw my arms around him.  His body stiffened in surprise, but soon melted into me as he gripped me tightly to his chest.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” he whispered into my hair as he kissed the top of my head.  “I was so worried.”

“I don’t understand how he got into my house,” I shook my head against him.  “That’s supposed to be impossible, right?”

“Right, love,” he sighed.  “I wish I had been there for you.  I can only imagine how scared you were.”

I hugged him tighter and allowed him to walk us into the house. 

Jameson sat me down on the sofa in the living room and went to make me a cup of tea. 

“Is Earl Grey okay?” Jameson asked.

“Yes, thank you,” I answered as I slipped off my flip-flops and pulled my knees to my chest.  I hugged them tightly to me and laid my head down on them.  The adrenaline from finding out that Amun had been in my house was wearing off; I was suddenly exhausted.

I heard the front door open and saw Quinn and Lochlan enter the family room, soon followed by everyone else.  I watched as Archer sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he walked over to me and took a seat beside me on the couch.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

I nodded my head as I put my cheek back down on my knees.  “Just tired,” I whispered as I closed my eyes.  “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“You’ve had a pretty eventful day, too,” Archer said gently.

“Here you go, love,” Jameson said and I lifted my head to see him holding a mug out to me.

I sat up and lowered my legs as I appreciatively accepted the steaming cup.  “Thank you, honey.”

Jameson had made my tea just how I liked it and I smiled gratefully as I blew onto the top of the cloudy liquid to cool it.

“So what happens now?” I asked Archer as Jameson took a seat in the overstuffed chair next to a napping Styvi Nix.

“
An Dílis
will be here as soon as they can.  The closest faction they have is in Houston at the moment.  They thought Amun was there, not in Austin.”

“Tell me the truth,” I pleaded gently.  “Pádraig said that Amun had been in my house in the past few days, but he never gave me an exact time frame.  I have a feeling he knows more than he is telling me.  What else do I not know?”

Archer sighed as he looked over at me.  I could see the indecision on his face as he gazed at mine.  “Just tell me, please…whatever it is, I can handle it.”

“He was in your house today,” Archer explained.  “Earlier this morning, based on the scent.”  He reached into his jean pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and watched me closely as he handed it to me.

“What’s this?” I asked, confused as I unfolded it.  I quickly read it and looked over at Archer with wide eyes.  “So, this is actual confirmation that he really has been controlling my dreams.  I didn’t want to believe it…”

Jameson stood up and came to sit on the other side of me.  He gently took the paper from me and glanced at it.  “Meet me in your dreams,” he read aloud and handed the paper back to Archer.  “Are we still worried about a Trojan Horse scenario?”

“Nay, Youngblood,” Archer answered quickly.  “Hunter and I both saw nothing to cause alarm during our readings.  I don’t know how he’s manipulating her dreams, but I badly want to.”

Archer looked at me and took a deep breath.  “I spoke with
An Dílis
and they want you to try something.  They want you to fall asleep and actively seek Amun in your dreams, if you can manage it.  When you see him, get him to talk to you.  Ask questions about your surroundings or see if you can get him to slip up and say where he is physically.  Also, see if he will tell you how he is able to access your dreams.  Pretend to be interested in it, if you can.  From what you’ve told me, Amun seems very boastful and self-righteous and he may tell you because of it.”

I shook my head, my eyes wide with sudden fear.  “I’m scared, Archer.  You know what he can do.  Please don’t ask me to do this.  I don’t want to see him again.”

Jameson pulled me into his arms to comfort me and I watched Archer’s body stiffen.  It was obvious he did not like Jameson touching me now.  “Would you feel better if one of us watched you while you slept?  That way someone will be there with you when you awaken?” Jameson asked sweetly.

“I’m scared,” I repeated as I looked over at Archer pleadingly.

“Youngblood, would you mind giving us a minute?” Archer asked as he got up and extended his hand to me.  “I want to talk to Skye in private.”

I slowly took his hand as I stood and followed him to the hall.  I glanced back apologetically at Jameson and then followed Archer to his office.

He closed the door and I took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of his desk.  I watched as he perched on the edge of the desk in front of me and sighed.  “What are you afraid of exactly, Skye?” he asked patiently.

I looked down at my hands and blushed furiously.  “I-I can’t handle having another dream like the last one I had,” I said, completely embarrassed, referring to the sexual encounter Archer and I had.  “It was too real…too vivid.  I was unable to differentiate a dream from actual reality.  I’m terrified to go through that for a second time.” I bit my bottom lip and sighed.  “I’m scared that he’ll use you against me, and I can’t deal with that right now.  I just can’t.”

“I know you are afraid,” Archer said gently, “but if you can help us catch Amun, I need you to try, love.  I’ll stay with you the entire time you’re asleep.  I won’t leave your side, I promise.”

I looked up at Archer and realized that I had no choice.  Amun was going to come to me in my dreams anyway, so why not be prepared and have someone beside me while it happens.  I swallowed thickly and finally nodded my head in agreement.

He smiled as he stood up and pulled me into his arms.  “You are so brave,” he whispered as he looked down into my eyes.  “I won’t let anything happen to you and I’ll wake you up if you start crying out in your sleep, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed as I wrapped my arms around him and held him tightly.  I was terrified of what I was about to do, but I knew it needed to be done.  “Where should I take my nap?”

“Wherever you are most comfortable, love,” he said and kissed the top of my head.

“My room,” I whispered into his chest.

I followed Archer out of the office and down the hall to the family room.  I waited by the entryway as Archer went over to Jameson and gave him his cell phone.  They spoke briefly in hushed tones then Archer walked back over to me.  The look on Jameson’s face tugged at my heart, but I’d rather Archer experience the horrors of my dreams instead of Jameson.  I had already brought Jameson enough worry with my previous dreams, he didn’t need to see anymore; especially if they were of the sexual nature and costarred by my boss and Jameson’s maker/brother/father.  Can you say ‘awkward’?

Archer and I walked to my room and I sat down on the edge of my bed as he shut the door. 

“Do you need to change?” he asked and I shook my head.

I quickly undid my braids and ran my fingers through my wavy hair before pulling back the covers and crawling under them.

Archer walked over to the French doors and pulled the curtains closed.  “Would you like me to lay down with you?” he asked as he turned back to me.

“No,” I shook my head.  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Then I’ll be right here when you wake up,” he smiled as he relaxed onto the chaise lounge.

I turned on my left side, facing away from him, and snuggled down into my pillow.  “Thank you,” I whispered and quickly fell asleep.

*****

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the iPod dock by the bed.  It read 5pm and I realized that I had slept three whole hours without dreaming of Amun.  I rolled over, took a deep breath and stretched my sore muscles.  Archer stirred on the chaise lounge on my right and sat up.

“
Damnú air
,” he swore as he tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose.  “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”  He looked up at me with raised, expectant eyebrows.  “Did you dream of him?”

I shook my head as I pushed back the covers and got out of bed.  “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I’m glad he didn’t come to me.  He scares the crap out of me, Archer.”

“I know, baby,” he said as he walked over to me.  “Go ahead and get dressed.  I need to call Ruarc and get an update. 
An Dílis
will want to go through your house, I’m sure.  They’ll need you to give them access before we go to the club.”

I nodded my head and turned to go to the bathroom when suddenly he was standing behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me to his chest.  He nuzzled my neck softly and it gave me goose bumps all over my body.  “I’m proud of you,” he whispered in my ear as he lightly trailed kisses down my neck.  His touch felt unbelievable good and my heart quickened with need.  I had a sudden flash from my dream; I was on top of him, my pink nipple in his hungry, delicious mouth as he looked up at me with hot desire in his eyes.  I quickly pushed the memory away and turned around in his arms to face him.

“You have to stop,” I whispered, putting my hand to his chest to get some distance between us.  “I don’t know what to do with these feeling I have for you.  Part of me wants to desperately make love to you like I did in my dream, but the other part of me feels betrayed and broken by what you and Hunter did to me.  I can’t be with you if part of me doesn’t trust you.  Lack of trust is a major deal breaker for me.”  I sighed as I looked down at the hand that was resting on his white t-shirt.  “I just broke up with Jameson because of the actions of you, Hunter and Trey.  I still don’t fully trust vampires.  It’s going to take a while to earn my trust back, Archer.  It may be too late, I don’t know.”

“I wish I could take back what I did to you,” he said sadly.  “I’d do anything to take your pain away, Skye.  I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

“Me too,” I said before standing on my tiptoes and chastely kissing him on his plush lips.  “Tell Ruarc to cancel the extra guards he was going to send you as a replacement for the ones I was going to take.  I’m not leaving here until Amun is dead; not now that he’s been in my house without an invitation.  I’ll never be truly safe there while he is still alive.”

He nodded his head as I stepped back and walked into the bathroom.  I heard my bedroom door softly close and I brushed my teeth and washed my face.  I quickly put on my makeup and threw my hair up into two tight buns on top of my head.  After making sure that my false eyelashes were adhered properly, I went to my closet and put on a blood red push-up bra, an excessively ripped black crop top that barely went below my bra, and a red, pleated tartan patterned ultra mini skirt.  I pulled on some ripped tights and completed the look with clunky platform knee-high boots.  After grabbing my bag, I shut my bedroom door and walked into the family room.

Styvi Nix came bounding up to me as soon as she saw me.  “Hey little girl!” I greeted her as I scooped her up in my arms.  “I’ve missed you, sleepy head.”

She barked and wiggled in my arms and I sat her down and watched her grab her tug rope and bring it to me.  “Does someone want to go outside and play?” I asked, laughing at how adorable she was.  She ran to the door and sat patiently; her little stubby tail wagging furiously with excitement.

I looked around the room and most of the vampires were watching her with an amused smile on their faces.  I could immediately tell that Styvi had made a few friends in her short time here.

I went to the back door and looked over my shoulder at Jameson.  “Care for a game of Fetch with us?” I smiled.

He returned mine with a tentative one of his own, grabbed his glass of blood and joined us.  He stood by me quietly as he watched me throw and Styvi fetch.

“I didn’t dream of Amun,” I said softly.

“I heard,” he replied, matching my tone.