Legacy of Blood by J. L. McCoy, Virginia Cantrell Page A

so different after all, you and I.  You may be a Day Walker now, but the potential for greatness is still there.  The possibilities are endless now.  There is so much we can do to them now that you are one of them.  They will never suspect-”
    “Fuck you!” I spat as I turned and walked away.  I didn’t have to listen to his bullshit.  He may have pulled me into this dream but, come hell or high water, I was going to walk out of it.
    “You have one week to come to me, Skye,” Amun yelled at my back.  “If you do not obey me, I will begin killing everyone you hold dear, one by one, and I will start with that fiery girl who shares your home.  I believe I will sew her colorful skin into a new hat.”
    I whirled around, my eyes wide and fearful.  “You lay one finger on her and I’ll-”
    “Silence!” Amun roared angrily, his voice echoing loudly all around me.  “Seven days, Skye.  And you had better be wearing the presents I left for you when you come to me.”

Chapter Nine
     
     
    I bolted upright in bed, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.  Oleif flashed from his spot on the chaise lounge to stand beside my bed.
    “What is it?” he demanded, his aqua eyes wide and alert.
    “I need to see Archer,” I breathed as I scrambled up out of bed.
    Oleif flashed to the door, blocking my exit.  “It is the middle of the night.  Everyone is sleeping, as you should be.  Tell me, what did you see?”
    “Get out of my way, Oleif!” I said through gritted teeth.  I was in no mood for controlling men at the moment.
    “No,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood up straighter.
    “I don’t have time for this shit,” I spat as I shoved him to the side with everything I had in me.  His body flew to the right, crashing heavily into the dresser, as I flashed out my door and threw open Archer’s.
    The sound of Oleif’s body breaking the wood dresser had awoken him and he was just starting to flash out of bed when I roughly pushed him back down on it.
    “Amun,” I breathed quickly as Oleif’s fierce growl sounded at Archer’s doorway.  The next thing I felt was Oleif’s hands in my hair, jerking me back and away from Archer.  I screamed out in pain as hair began to rip from my scalp.
    “Stop!” Archer yelled as he flashed to Oleif and tried to pry his thick hand from my arm.  “Get your hands off her!”
    Oleif let go of my hair, put his forearm around my throat, and squeezed hard as he growled out something in Gaelic.
    “Let go of me.  I have to talk to Archer!” I choked and coughed out as I clawed at Oleif’s massive arm.
    “What the hell is going on in here?” Hagan growled from the doorway, a bag of blood in his hand and a shocked look on his face.
    “The girl attacked me,” Oleif snarled as he straightened his body, my feet leaving the floor, and squeezed harder.
    “Let her go!”
    “Gah wa le mah fahk aaah shii-!”
    “Are you idiots done yet?” Hagan sighed as he leaned against the doorframe, his face taking on a look of boredom, as he slowly took another sip from his blood bag.
    Oleif snarled frustratedly and instantly let go of me.  I fell to the floor and grabbed my throat.  He had crushed my windpipe.  “She attacked me!”
    “I’m sure she had good reason,” Archer growled protectively as he crouched down on the floor in front of me, tilting my head up so he could get a good look at me.  My throat began to tingle and itch as it healed.
    “Why did she attack you?” Hagan asked, walking into the room.
    “She was sleeping, and then she jumped out of bed and tried to leave her room.  I told her everyone was asleep and she couldn’t leave.  She threw me out of the way and left anyway.”
    “Is that what that crashing sound was?” Hagan chuckled.
    “You think the assault of one of your brethren a joke?” Oleif asked very quietly and his sudden change in temperament made me scared.  His voice promised death; a long, slow, and very