Blood of the Son (Book #1 in the Skye Morrison Vampire Series) (Skye Morrison Series) (29 page)

I turned off the TV and quietly finished my tea.  I couldn’t bear to watch the rest of the news cast.  I had had enough nightmares for one day.  I was wide awake and there was no chance of falling back asleep, so I went upstairs, put on my workout clothes, and drove over to the gym.  I hadn’t been able to work out in a few days and the tension in my body was building up.  I desperately needed to feel my muscles burn and release some of it.

I pulled into the gym and got to work.  I spent an hour on the elliptical machine, an hour doing free weights, and I took a one hour hot yoga class.  Hot yoga was so relaxing.  The heat mixed with the stretching was wonderful.  I felt like I had meditated the entire hour.  My mind was calm and my heart happy.  I hoped that the feeling lasted all day.  

I arrived home at eleven, fed Styvi Nix, and made myself a fresh fruit, yogurt, and granola parfait for breakfast.  I nibbled on it as I read a few chapters of the latest novel I was working on.  When I got to a scene where the boy confesses his undying love for the girl and sweeps her off her feet, I threw my book down.  Real love doesn’t work like that…at least not in my world; and definitely not lately.  I groaned, took my dish to the sink, and washed it out.  It was two in the afternoon, so I decided that I had better head up to my room, wash the workout off, and get ready for work.

I took a quick shower and re-washed my hair and body.  When I was done, I dried off and threw on my black silk robe.  I took my time blow drying my waist length hair straight and applying tonight’s gothic makeup.  I used an ultra-pale foundation and powder combo and paired it with black eye shadow.  I lined my eyes in teal and used black eyeliner to draw delicate swirling filigree around my eyes.  I finished off the look with teal colored false eyelashes and lipstick.  My hair looked a little plain, so I teased sections of it up big and plastered it into place with copious amounts of hairspray. 

I had no clue what I should wear tonight, so I dug through all of the new clothes I bought with the company charge card and finally found the perfect outfit.  I selected my black ultra-skinny bondage pants, a black fabric and mesh bondage shirt, and my new five inch spinal stilettos.  After a quick spin in front of my full length mirror, I was satisfied.  I thought I looked pretty good.

I threw my Chucks in my messenger bag, hobbled downstairs, and kissed Styvi Nix goodbye.  She was curled up on the couch sleeping and barely paid any attention.  After a quick check to make sure that the house was all locked up, I got in my car and backed out of the driveway.  Type O Negative kept me company on the drive downtown to The Mausoleum.

When I pulled into the employee parking lot, I was shocked by the number of cars.  Our lot had never been full before, but we’d never had all the employees here at once, either.  I found a small spot open by the alley and pulled into it.  I grabbed my bag, locked my car, and headed toward the employee entrance. 

This is it
, I thought silently. 
My first real day on the job
.  I had nervous butterflies in my stomach and I hoped like hell that I didn’t disappoint Archer with my lack of knowledge at running a club.  I wanted today to be perfect, so I sent up a silent prayer before I opened the door and walked in.

The back of the club, which housed the stock rooms, equipment room, and employee lounge, was bustling with activity.  I saw Lochlan wave to me as he ducked into a stockroom for supplies.  I headed straight for the employee lounge to put my bag in my locker before I had to meet up with Archer. 

When I entered the lounge, I was in for a surprise.  The boom box was blaring and the cage dancers, both male and female, were having a dance-off.  I walked a little further in and watched the show with great interest.  Two guys, Alex and Seth, were having a break-off.  Each took turns dancing and spinning.  At the end of the round, Seth won.  Two girls, Courtney and Eden, took their place, changed the music to pop, and took turns gyrating their hips and shaking their shoulders.  At the end of the round, Courtney won.  She challenged me next and I shook my head and laughed. 

“Nu-uh…no way,” I said, walking over to my locker and putting up my bag.  “You’re a professional dancer.  I know better than to take you on.  I’ll just look like a fool next to you.”

“Oh, come on, Skye,” she said with a laugh.  “I’ll take it easy on you, I promise.” 

The group of dancers good-naturedly egged me on and I finally gave in.  “Okay, okay,” I said with a laugh, shaking my head.  “But let’s let someone else pick the music.”

A girl with short black hair, I couldn’t remember her name off the top of my head, went over to the boom box and put another CD in.  I shook my limbs to warm up as Courtney got ready to dance.  Rihanna’s song ‘Rude Boy’ came on and Courtney started moving her body.  She was grinding up and down, her hair whipping as she moved.  She was an awesome dancer.  Her control was amazing.  When her turn was over, the room erupted in claps and whistles, and I was right there with them joining in. 

There wasn’t a chance in hell I could beat Courtney, so I decided to just have fun with it.  I stepped out into the round and broke out my 80s moves.  I was cabbage-patching, roger-rabbiting, and doing the running-man.  The whole room erupted in cheers and some even joined in on the dancing from the sidelines. For my big finale, I grabbed Seth and we did the Kid and Play together. 

By the time my two minutes were up, I was thoroughly embarrassed, but I had had a blast.  Courtney came up to me and hugged me and we had a good laugh about it.  Everyone was busy busting out their 80s moves and laughing, so no winner was called out, but that was fine by me.  Courtney had wiped the floor with me, naturally.  I slipped out the door as quickly as I was able and made it to the main floor by 5 o’clock. 

Archer’s first floor bartenders, Hunter and Trey, were busy cleaning and stocking the bar and prepping garnishes.  I surveyed the room and saw Aoife and Lochlan doing the same thing to the second floor bar.  Seamus was by the front entrance setting up crowd control ropes and prepping the bouncer station while Quinn was busy setting up a barrier rope at the end of the staircase. 

I turned toward the stage and saw a group of three guys setting up the DJ and sound equipment.  They had huge rolling trunks that were labeled DJ DARK.  My heart skipped a beat and I got excited.  I could hardly contain the teenage squeal that was threatening to erupt from my mouth at any second.  Today was the day I had been waiting for.  I would finally be able to see a DJ Dark show.  I briefly looked around the club again and wondered where he was. 

After a quick wave hello to Trey and Hunter, I headed over to the stairs and greeted Quinn.  “Hey, Quinn.  Big day, huh?”

“Yep,” he said while installing the barrier rope on the stairs.  “It’s going to be a crazy night, I can feel it.  How you doin’ today?”

“Pretty good.  I’m excited about seeing the DJ.”

Quinn laughed.  “Well, you’d better get your ass upstairs, then.  He’s up in Archer’s office…go say hi.”

I smiled brightly.  “Okay!  See you later.”  I walked up the stairs, said a quick hello to Aoife and Lochlan, then opened the door to Archer’s private staircase and started the ascension.  I knocked a few times on Archer’s office door, then let myself in. 

Archer was nowhere to be found, but DJ Dark was sitting in a tall director’s chair and he was being attended to by his makeup artist.  They both turned and looked at me.  I smiled brightly as soon as I made eye contact with him.  DJ Dark was thin with long, wavy black hair, a long, straight nose, and a pointed chin.  He had dark eyes and looked distinctly Roman, except for his pale skin.  He was incredibly handsome, to say the least, and I immediately felt the butterflies. 

“Wow, that was fast,” DJ Dark said as he shooed his makeup artist and got out of the chair.  He walked over to me and licked his lips.  “Where would you like it, girl? Wrist or neck?  I don‘t have all day.”

I stared at him in a dazed confusion for a few seconds. 
What is he talking about? 
I snapped out of it just as he smirked, picked up my wrist, and moved to bring it to his mouth.  I saw his long fangs slide down and I let out a surprised scream.  All of my Krav Maga training kicked in within a nanosecond and I attacked without thought. As I brought my left hand up to guard my face, I shot my right palm out and, with it, rapidly delivered a heel strike to his nose then immediately to his throat.  I used both hands to grip his shoulders and quickly drove three consecutive knee jabs into his lower abdomen. He leaned over and groaned in pain as soon as I let go, but I barely noticed.  I instinctively guarded my face again with my left arm and used my right elbow the deliver a raining elbow strike to the back of his head.  He fell down to the ground.  Someone grabbed me around the waist, hugged me tight, and pulled me away before I could kick my attacker in the ribs.  It was all over within five seconds.

“What the hell are you doing?” Archer bellowed angrily from his apartment doorway.  I looked up at him as Jameson spoke in my right ear from behind.

“Are you okay?” he asked in a breathless voice.  “We heard you scream.  What happened?”

Jameson turned my body around to face his and he quickly searched my face.  “He…he had fangs,” I stumbled, shaking my head.  “He tried to bite me.”

Jameson quickly reached up and turned my head from side to side, checking my neck.  He then grabbed my hands and examined my wrists.  A relieved look came over his face.  He sighed and said, more to himself than to me, “He didn’t bite you.”

I jerked my hands out of his.  “I know,” I said a little angrily.  “I didn’t give him the chance.”  I turned around and saw Archer and the makeup artist helping DJ Dark off the floor.  His nose was bleeding and he groaned in pain.  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I shouted at him.

Archer and the artist put the DJ back in the director’s chair.  DJ Dark briefly held his hand to his nose and when he pulled it away, he saw all of the blood.  “Ugh!  You bitch!  You broke my fucking nose!” he venomously spat at me.

“Watch your mouth!” Archer and I shouted at him at the exact same time.  We looked over at each other, surprised.  His eyes momentarily softened as he looked at me. 

Archer turned back to the DJ.  “Why did you try to feed from her?” he demanded angrily.

DJ Dark popped his nose back into place, accepted a wad of tissues from his makeup artist, and held them to his nose.  “Fuck, man!  You said you were going to go call in a girl for me and a few minutes later she walks in.  I thought she was my blood whore.”

My mouth dropped open in shock.  “I am not a frickin’ blood whore!” I shouted angrily as I took a step toward him.  Jameson quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back. 

“Easy, love,” he gently laughed and whispered in my ear.

Archer shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.  “
Deargamadán
.  I can’t leave you alone for five minutes, can I?”  He raised his head and gestured to me with his left hand.  “This is my executive assistant, Stellan!  She is not your meal!” 

DJ Dark/Stellan’s makeup assistant took the tissue out of his hand and started wiping at the blood with a wet cloth.  “How was I supposed to know that?” he yelled, knocking the assistants hand away as he glared at Archer

Archer growled at the defiance in Stellan’s eyes and the DJ immediately looked down in submission. “I am sorry,
Athair
.  Please forgive me.  I had momentarily forgotten my place.”

“It will not happen again,” Archer growled, his eyes and posture fierce.

“Aye,
Athair
,” Stellan replied remorsefully and looked back up.  The makeup artist finished wiping at the blood and resumed her task of making up his face.

“Apologize to my assistant, Stellan,” Archer said not taking his eyes off him.

DJ Dark closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and visibly shook for a second. After a few seconds, he stopped and looked up at me.  His dark eyes were clouded over and the color had faded considerably.  I knew from experience this meant that vampires were very angry.  “I am sorry,” he said plainly.

“Now you, Miss Morrison.”

I bristled.  “Why do I have to apologize?  He’s the one who treated me like a hamburger!”

Archer’s eyes narrowed at me and I knew he was pissed.  I didn’t want to argue with him again, so I swallowed my pride and did as he asked.

“I’m terribly sorry for the misunderstanding, DJ Dark.  I hope I didn’t injure you too badly.”

Jameson snickered behind me and quickly stopped when Archer looked over at him..

“Jameson,” Archer said, “See if his nose is still broken.  If it hasn’t already healed on its own, heal him.  Skye, please follow me.”  With that, he turned around and walked back into his club apartment.

The makeup assistant caught my eye as I walked toward the apartment door and she smiled and winked at me.  I was guessing she was happy that I had kicked his ass.  Maybe she had secretly wanted to do that to him too.  I smiled back and entered the apartment.

Archer quickly shut the door and turned to me.  “What in God’s name do you think you were doing in there?”

I crossed my arms over my chest defiantly.  “Protecting myself, Archer!  He tried to…fang rape me!”

Archer threw his head back and laughed.  The sound was so unexpected that I jumped and dropped my arms.  He closed the small distance between us and pulled me into a hug.  “You are dangerous, Miss Morrison,” he said, his chest rumbling with laughter.