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

painful death.
    “Calm yourself, brother,” Hagan placated.  “I apologize.  An assault on you is no laughing matter.  I was merely surprised that she was able to.”
    “She caught me off-guard,” he straightened his back indignantly, “otherwise it would not have happened.”
    “You didn’t have to crush my windpipe,” I huffed as I stood up off the floor, my throat completely healed but still a bit sore.
    “And you did not have to shove me across the room!” Oleif yelled, his aqua eyes pissed.
    “I’m sorry, okay?” I held my hands out to my sides.  “I tried telling you that I had to talk to Archer but you wouldn’t let me out.  I didn’t want to stand there and argue with you.”
    “What was so important that you would risk your very life to disobey me?” Oleif demanded.
    “Amun came to me in my sleep again,” I answered fearfully, turning to Archer, as I remembered his threat.  “It’s bad, Archer… really, really bad.”
    Oleif immediately took his cell phone out of his pocket and hit speed dial as Archer led me to his couch.  Oleif and Hagan stood in front of me as Archer sat next to me.
    “Tell me,” Archer commanded, his eyes worried.
    “Wait,” Oleif said and we all looked up at him.  A silent second passed before he spoke into the phone.  “She dreams of him,” he said and activated the speakerphone feature after a brief pause.
    “What did you see?” Ruarc’s disembodied voice demanded.
    “How do I know you won’t kill me after I tell you?” I asked fearfully.  I wasn’t stupid.  Ruarc saw me as an abomination and did not see me fit to live unless I passed whatever tests he chose to give me.  What if he decided that Amun’s influence over me was too great and killed me anyway, before I got a chance to prove myself to him?
    “Would you like me to torture it out of her, sir?” Oleif asked as he sneered at me.  “It would be my pleasure.”
    “Jesus, Oleif!” Hagan rolled his eyes in exasperation.
    “I made a promise to my son that I would give you a fair trial,” Ruarc said impatiently.  “I am a man of my word, Miss Morrison.  No harm will come to you if you pass my tests.  Now tell me everything; leave no detail out, no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be.”
    I took a deep breath and looked up at Hagan for guidance.  I trusted him to tell me if I was indeed safe.  He nodded his head encouragingly and I did as Ruarc asked.  I told him everything; from me feeling a pulling on my consciousness as I slept and me choosing to let it in to Amun telling me to wear the presents he left me when I came to him.  Oleif’s growl prompted me to inform Ruarc of our scuffle and I made sure to tell Ruarc, and Oleif again, how sorry I was for the slight.
    “This proves he cannot control her,” Archer said, deep in thought.  “She also said he called her a Day Walker.  She is indeed one of us if he was angered by it.”
    “Not so fast,” Oleif spoke up.  “He said his soul was inside of her which means she is partly whatever… thing he is.  That proves she is not one of us.”
    “That proves nothing,” Hagan countered. 
    “I am inclined to agree with Hagan,” Ruarc sighed, sounding none too happy about it.  “We can’t know the extent of his infection until Skye is tested.”
    “Hello!  You guys are missing the big picture here.  He expects me to come to him before seven days are up or he starts killing my friends and family!”
    “This may be the opportunity we have been waiting for,” Oleif smiled as he looked down at me.  “She can lead us to him.”
    “You want to use me as bait?!” 
    “Sounds good to me,” Oleif grinned wolfishly.
    “Silence, the both of you,” Ruarc growled and then sighed heavily into the phone.  “This is the chance we have been waiting for.  It’s the best position we have been in thus far.  Amun is here in the city and not going anywhere until he gets what he wants, and that’s the