The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (25 page)

“If you chew any of my shoes we’re going to have a serious problem.” I said sternly. He replied by sitting up and licking my face with his wet tongue.

“Eww, not on the lips, cheeks only.” I ordered, wiping my face with my hand, and giving Mathias a dirty look.

“See, I knew you two would get along. He’s already has had his nectar drops and here are his bowls and food,” Mathias reached around the bushes in the front and put the two fifty pound bags of dog food in the hall along with two large dishes.

“Happy Christmas,” he said to me as he and Oscar walked down the driveway.

“Merry Christmas to you, I hope you have room for him if he gets in trouble because he’s coming to your house.” I shouted.

Mathias turned. “Nice dress by the way."

“Yeah, I’m sure in a few minutes it will be covered with dog hair and slobber, thanks."

He waved and went back on his merry way, leaving Cupcake and me alone.

I shook my head and went inside, turning around to Cupcake, I asked. “Well, are you coming inside or not?"

He clumsily got up and gave a deep "Woof" before rambling into the house.

"Merry Christmas to you Cupcake,” I replied before shutting the door and locking it. I walked in the living room to find my new roommate had already made himself at home on the couch and was currently slurping up wine out of my glass.

I laughed to myself and sat down next to him. “You know, I had you pegged as a whiskey guy."

His only response was to lay his massive head in my lap and close his eyes.

“Merry Christmas to me,” I said softly as I pet his soft fur.

Chapter Seventeen

The next morning I woke up slightly overheated and paralyzed from the waist down. I cracked my eyes open and saw my new, massive puppy dosing contently by my side.

“All right, we need to have a talk. It's way too early in our relationship to be sleeping together already." I said sleepily

Cupcake responded by opening one eye and then promptly went back to sleep. I untangled myself from the blankets and his body to go into the bathroom to take a quick shower.

The whole family was gathering for an early dinner at the castle. My mom said it was going to be a very informal affair, but I'm pretty sure jeans would be frowned upon by my grandmother. I shimmied on a pair of black tights and paired it with a red plaid skirt, black turtleneck sweater, and knee high black boots.

“Come on Cupcake, time for a late breakfast and bathroom break before we head off to meet your grandparents." I said to him coming into the bedroom.

The half hour that I had planned to get us ready did not go smoothly. For one thing, Cupcake needed to go out at once. He kindly showed me this the minute we got upstairs, and he started scratching the hell out of the door. Then when he came in, he took his leisurely time over breakfast before scratching at the door again to be let out.

Finally, an hour later we were on our way to the castle in my new ride. Cupcake seemed very excited when we got going and stuck his massive head out in the wind with his ears flapping and mouth wide open. I enjoyed watching him and even giggled until I noticed big, plops of doggie drool all over his side of my shiny new vehicle.

"Mathias is so cleaning this every day.” I muttered to myself as I pulled up into the Castle courtyard. My face broke into a smile, and I waved to Riah and Serena as they came out to greet me.

“Merry Christmas!" I called out.

“Merry Christmas, oh my gosh, who’s dog is that?" Serena asked in a delighted voice

“That’s not a dog. That’s a young bull, look at the size of his nuts.” Riah joked.

We all stared over at Cupcake, who had wandered over to the grass. He was on his back, with his paws in the air, rubbing around in the dirt.

“Cupcake!" I reprimanded. “No! Bad dog, do not roll around on something dead, or you will not be sleeping in my bed tonight."

“Cupcake? You named a male St. Bernard Cupcake?" Riah asked

“No, Mathias named him Cupcake before he dropped him off at my doorstep last night and took off smirking.” I answered

“Mathias gave you a dog?" Serena asked astonished

“Yup, merry fucking Christmas to me, isn't he a peach?" I snorted “Apparently he wanted me to have a guard dog. Doesn’t he look vicious?"

Riah and Serena burst out laughing as they took in Cupcake’s lazy walk back over to me. He plopped down next to my feet huffing and puffing.

“He looks battle worthy,” Riah quipped

“Battle over a steak maybe,” I said swiftly

“Oh, he’s cute,” Serena said as she knelt down to pat him. “We used to have a St. Bernard when I was little. My mother is going to spoil him rotten."

“Your mother?" I asked confused.

“Yes, my mother. You haven’t had met her yet, she’s been busy at the school.” Serena said

“Are we talking about your mother, as in a woman who is like a mother to you or a woman who birthed you from her loins?"

“My biological mother and I were both turned together,” she said

“Ok, I’m a little shocked." I said. “You know I haven’t wanted to ask either of you because I know it’s not something that is spoken of, but how did you die?"

"Well, my story is fairly typical,” Riah started. “After deflowering many young debutantes and causing scandal, in the aristocratic English society of the 1820’s, I was shipped off to Europe where I whored and drank my way from one end to another before ending up in a Paris brothel. I was approached by a beautiful, mysterious creature named Yvette, who offered me, her body and immortality. I was so drunk I accepted. It was only when she lifted her veil, and I saw her red eyes before she ripped my throat out did I realize what she may be. That's when I realized what she wanted to turn me into."

“So you didn’t realize what she was?" I asked

“No, I didn’t. I was a drunken wastrel. I wasn’t very particular about whose skirts I lifted. Needless to say, when I woke up a few days later in the basement with the bitch standing over me I was pissed. She was too, the Rau are not fond of making those that become the Solas. They prefer people that are evil to the core, so that they can expand their small army."

“So what happened? Did she try to kill you when she realized?"

“She didn’t get a chance. I killed her first and then took out a few others that were there,” he smiled slightly

“After that you also saved a few people as well Riah." Serena said thoughtfully.

“It is they who freed me. You see Willa; they had recently captured a few clan members on vacation and decided that they were all powerful now. They wanted to recruit more members into their club. I'm lucky that Pierre and Paulette took the time to explain to me who they were and what I was. I protected them while we travelled here and ever since then the lucky bastards that they are now have me for a substitute son."

“Awww, that’s so sweet. Are they still alive?" I asked

“Alive and well, they own a hair salon and barber shop in town called ‘Crops & Bobbers’." he answered with a smile

“Oh, I’ve seen that, it’s a block over from the bakery, right? Next to ‘Han’s Hats, Gloves, and Fine apparel’ and that Japanese place, ‘Saki Sun’?”

“That’s them, speaking of which, I just got done with my shift and am heading over to their house to spend the day. Happy Christmas to you both and if you get lonely tonight call me.” Riah grinned

“You forget that I now have a big, strong, man in my bed every night but I’ll keep you in mind.” I smiled

“Merry Christmas Riah, tell Pierre and Paulette I said hello.” Serena said

“I will do that. Cupcake, it was a pleasure, although now I am exceedingly jealous of you. Lucky dog." he said as he walked away.

“So, are you going to tell me how you and your mother died?" I asked Serena

Serena looked thoughtful for a minute. “My mother and I were on vacation. It was a once in a lifetime holiday. I had just graduated from the Master’s program, and she had been scraping every penny together for years to be able to afford it."

“Master’s program? I’m assuming you weren’t turned that long ago?"

“No, we are relatively ‘young’ vampires. The year was 1982. I grew up in a small fishing village on the coast of Maine. My dad was a lobsterman who had been lost at sea since I was nine, and my mom was a teacher. After he had died it was hard but we managed, and I got a full ride to UMaine where I studied English Literature. I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a teacher as well. I wanted to teach at a college level, so I busted my tail to get my Masters while I worked forty hours a week."

“The day I graduated my mother handed me our itinerary and I was floored, I couldn’t believe she had saved enough for us to go to England. It was a dream come true for two book lovers and amateur historians. For two weeks we explored, went to museums, took in the culture, it was perfect. On our last night, we took a few wrong turns in the fog, and a very sick Rau kidnapped us."

"I never knew his name; he never gave us that information. He was a very disturbed man, probably even before he was turned. He had some grand idea of wanting a wife and a mother, so he stalked us in the dark and took us. Those two days were a nightmare. He tied us up and showed us what he was and what he wanted from us. I prayed every second that he would just end our lives."

“When he finally drained us, I held on to my mother’s hand and hoped that we would die, I had no desire to become a monster. When we woke up though, a few days later, he was gone. Mathias was waiting for us to awaken. After he had explained everything, we came here and started our new lives."

“What was Mathias doing there?" I asked, slightly sick to my stomach after hearing Serena’s story.

“In the last few hundred years, it’s been fairly uncommon for anyone to become a vampire against their will. Like Riah said, the Rau want people to be evil like them. To have someone turn into the Solas ultimately defeats their purpose and only helps the very cause they are trying to fight. Still, it does happen from time to time, so we all do little scouting expeditions around the world. Riah and I were lucky, we found out who we had become soon after being turned, and were given a chance at a decent life. Some aren’t so lucky though; they wander around, starving, trying to survive on the edges of society."

"I’m sorry Serena.” I said contrite.

“It’s ok. You’re curious, I would be too,” she replied with a gentle smile

“So what do you say we go in and celebrate? I’m starving." I pronounced

We made our way into the castle and up the stairs to the family room. Cupcake was immediately fawned over by everyone. Even Winifred gave him a pat on his large head.

If I had met Serena’s mom Kathleen on the street, I would have instantly known who she was. Although her curly brown hair was cut shorter and sprinkled with gray, she shared the same heart shape face, dimples, bright green eyes and tall, athletic body as her daughter.

“It’s nice finally to meet you Willa, I have heard so much about you. I’ve been anxious to make your acquaintance,” she said warmly

“Thank you, that’s so sweet, I’m happy to meet you as well. Serena’s been so great to me since I’ve been here. She truly has become a good friend.” I said honestly. “I’m glad that you both are here to celebrate the holiday with our family."

“Well, Winifred took us under her wing when we arrived, and she’s like a sister to me,” Kathleen said

“Really?” I asked, somewhat pissed. Apparently the ice queen is welcoming to everyone except to me.

“Yes,” Kathleen answered before lowering her voice and leaning in towards me. “I know she hasn’t been very warm to you but give her a chance Willa. She does have terrible regret about the way she reacted to you when you arrived."

“I’ll do my best." I said.

“I cannot believe you got a dog. Where on earth did you find such a delightful creature, Willa?" Rhoswen asked

“Mathias gave him to me." I replied

“Really?" asked Oliver. “That’s unexpected of him.”

“Not really. I find that Mathias always seems to want to annoy me on some level. Giving me a dog was probably more for his amusement than anything else.” I said ruefully

The room fell silent at my dig towards their knight in shining head of security.

“I’m sure Mathias thought that he would be a great companion for you.” Winifred said rushing to his defense.

“I’m sure he did," I agreed. “I’m also sure he probably installed hidden cameras so he could watch me try to take care of my new giant, clumsy, friend. I’m positive Cupcake, and I would make for some pretty funny reality TV."

Everyone chuckled, and I went over to the table sent up in the room with appetizers. I grabbed a piece of toasted bruschetta with fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes and munched away happily while Cupcake sat by my feet looking up at me hopefully.

“Hi sweetheart,” my father said as he came over to stand beside me.

“Hey dad,” I greeted and slipped my arm through his. I leaned my head on his shoulder while we surveyed the room quietly.