Chapter 3
"Haeston?" I turned my head so I could see his ugly face and his little piggy eyes. "Do you think you could get me a drink from the bar please? It's going to get pretty hot here."
He grinned. "Sure, sweetcheeks, what would you like?"
"A cider?" I forced a smile. "Thank you."
"Don't go away." He peeled himself off me and disappeared into the crowd.
I heaved a sigh of relief. The crowd behind me closed in and another desperate glance to my left told me there was no way I could get to my friends. I turned the other way.
"Hey, your name's Ragnar, isn't it?"
He glanced down at me and raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"
"No." I licked my lips, my heart hammering. "Could I stand the other side of you, please?"
Ragnar smirked. "Next to Skorpa?"
"Um, yeah."
He turned and said something to Skorpa that I couldn't hear. I stood there, shivering, and looking back towards the bar. I couldn't see Haeston but he would be back in minutes. Skorpa looked past Ragnar and his piercing eyes met mine. I held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. His lips twitched a little, then he broke the contact. My heart sank, but suddenly, Ragnar pushed himself back from the barrier and tugged me in front of him. Then I was in front of Skorpa and Ragnar stepped forward again. Someone the other side of him closed the gap where I'd been, leaving no place for Haeston to return to. I sagged with relief, and gripped the top of the barrier.
Skorpa's hands appeared on the railing either side of me, one holding a half-full pint cup, but he didn't crowd me like Haeston had done. Instead, he leaned down to speak in my ear above the music, and his long hair brushed my bare arm.
"Going to introduce yourself?"
"Skade," I said.
"The Norse goddess of winter, skies and hunters." Surprised, I looked back over my shoulder. He grinned. "So, to what do I owe this honour?"
"Someone was bothering me."
"Who?"
I looked around but there was no sign of Haeston. "He went to the bar. A short stocky guy with long hair in braids. Haeston."
"And you think I'm a better prospect?"
"Possibly."
"You may be right. I'm Skorpa, but I'm guessing you know that."
I nodded.
"Ragnar, you already spoke to. This one's Erik." He indicated the other blond muscleman to his right. Erik grinned and flashed perfect white teeth. He seemed friendly and was very good-looking.
The club music stopped then, and the support band's roadie began testing the mics.
"Skade!"
I cringed at the sound of Haeston's voice, loud above the general chatter around us.
"That him?" Skorpa asked.
"Yes."
"Ignore him. He won't get near you." He held up his drink in front of me. "You want some of this?"
"Thanks." I took the plastic cup and sipped some. He took it back.
"Are you on your own tonight?"
"No, I'm with friends, but they're somewhere over there." I gestured to my left. When I put my hand back on the barrier, he touched my forearm and ran his fingers up to my shoulder. I noticed his nails were clean, and he wore a heavy silver ring on his thumb.
"Nice ink," he said.
"Thanks."
"Get it done locally?"
"Dark Promise."
"You'll know Majick, then. I thought some of that looked like his work."
I nodded and began to relax. Strangely, I felt safer than I had in weeks, surrounded by thugs who intimidated the good people of Winchester. I just hoped that Skorpa wouldn't assume I intended to give him anything in return for his help.
A few minutes later, the support band was on the stage. I stopped worrying about Haeston. I couldn't see him in the crowd and even if he could see me, he couldn't get to me. Hopefully he wouldn't dare to try.
I shared the rest of Skorpa's beer during the support band's set, and when they left the stage the crowd behind us thinned out as many people rushed to the bar. I glanced around anxiously, but there was still no sign of Haeston.
"I'm going to, um, go to the ladies," I said as I turned around. Skorpa stepped aside to let me pass, but as I made my way across the dancefloor, I realised he was following me. I smiled a little, feeling as if I had my own personal bodyguard. When I reached the toilets, he leaned on the wall outside and folded his arms.
I made quick use of the facilities and was just washing my hands, when Brida came out of one of the other cubicles. "Hey, where'd you get to?"
"I got shoved to the right by the crowd. Haeston's here."
"What? Where?"
"I don't know. He grabbed me when we got separated, but I haven't seen him since before the support band came on."
"Come back with me. We're all in a group."
"I'm fine. I've actually got someone watching out for me. I'm not sure how wise that is, but at least Haeston can't bother me."
"What are you talking about?" She followed me as I made for the door.
I just raised my eyebrows and pointed at Skorpa, who was hovering outside looking the other way.
"You have to be joking. Skade!" Brida hissed. "What if he does something to you?"
"Like what? Send me dirty pictures? Tell me I owe him and that he's going to get what he wants? I've been there. I'm sick of being there. I really don't think Skorpa is going to do the same thing. Let's get back out there or we'll miss the band. I'll see you later. Don't worry, I'm okay." I walked out of the door.
"Damn, do you women have parties in there, or what?" Skorpa shook his head and placed his hand on the middle of my back as we walked back towards the stage.
"Something like that. My friend was in there. She's a little worried about—"
"The company you're keeping?" He grinned.
"I was going to say Haeston. Shit." I halted abruptly as Haeston appeared in front of me.
"This is him, is it?" Skorpa asked quietly.
"Yeah."
His hand moved from the middle of my back, to grip the nape of my neck as if I were a kitten about to be picked up by its parent.
Haeston glowered. "What are you doing with him?" he aimed at me.
"Might I suggest in future, if you value your property you shouldn't leave it unattended," Skorpa said pleasantly.
I bristled a little at the derogatory way he spoke in respect to me, but I kept quiet.
"You must be Haeston. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Skorpa. Perhaps you've heard of me."
Haeston's eyes widened. "Uh, I might have. I thought you were, um, in jail."
Skorpa grinned. "They grew tired of me. You know what I was being punished for?"
"Uh huh." Haeston nodded.
Skorpa leaned closer. "I didn't learn my lesson," he said only just loud enough to be heard above the band's roadie tuning their guitars. Then he straightened and steered me towards the crowd surrounding the stage.
"You don't scare me!" Haeston shouted from behind us.
Skorpa chuckled and squeezed my neck. "Persistent, isn't he?"
"Very. How are we going to get back to—?" I broke off as Ragnar, at the front of the crowd, turned around. The cluster of people behind him parted like the Red Sea, and Skorpa propelled me through the gap in front of him until we reached the barrier again. "Wow. Either you have a lot of friends, or they're all really afraid of you."
"Are you afraid of me?" He rested his hands on the barrier either side of me again and straightened his arms to prevent the crowd behind squashing us.
"Not so far. Maybe that's as stupid as me meeting some crazy person off the Internet."
"I'm guessing you're talking about Haeston?"
"Yes. Seemed like a good idea at the time. He was nothing like his photo and I ditched him right away. He's been stalking me since. I think he found out where I live."
The band started up before we could talk anymore. I took my phone out of my pocket and took several pictures of them, and several extra ones of Bloodhair for Sihtric. The music was loud, the bass and drums making my chest vibrate. It was exhilarating. I put the phone away. Skorpa relaxed his arms enough to bring him closer to me, but not so much that I was crushed against the barrier. I felt the heat of him through our clothes, and where our bare arms touched, our skin grew slick with sweat.
I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I took a risk by approaching him because I thought there was a chance he'd protect me from Haeston, but I hadn't thought about whether he'd want anything in return. Even now, he didn't touch me except to rest his arms around me, and his cheeks brushed mine now and then as the crowd jostled us. He didn't grind himself against me or do anything else. It felt good having him there.
When the gig finished and the band left the stage, the DJ began playing some rock music and the crowd dispersed to go to the bar, the toilets, or leave. It was close to midnight, and I knew Aethelflaed and Gisela would want to go home as they both worked on Saturdays.
"I should go and look for my friends," I said.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes, two of them have to work tomorrow." I spotted Gisela and Uhtred watching me, both with anxious faces. Brida and Aethelflaed joined them as I watched. "They're over there," I added, pointing.
"Go and join them, then." Skorpa grinned. "You're allowed."
"Sorry." I laughed. "I really appreciate you helping me."
"No problem. It was definitely my pleasure."
I walked away from him to join the others. Aethelflaed grabbed my arm as we headed for the exit. "What on earth are you doing? You were with Skorpa?"
"He was a much safer bet than—" I staggered as someone bumped into me from behind. "Watch out!" I exclaimed as I turned around.
"Sweetcheeks." It was Haeston and he looked drunk.
"Seriously? Get out of my face. Come on, Aethelflaed." We hurried after the others as they went outside.
I might have guessed Haeston wouldn't give up so easily, after the way he'd behaved over the past couple of weeks. He grabbed at me, but lurched drunkenly and had to use his hands to save himself from falling. Aethelflaed and I rushed out into the street.
"Skade, c'm'ere." Haeston appeared and reached for my arm.
More people spilled out of the Cauldron, jostling to get to the taxis lining up at the kerb. Uhtred, Gisela, and Brida were near the front of the crowd, about to get into one. Aethelflaed and I dodged away from Haeston and hurried to join them, but this time he managed to get hold of me.
"Let go of me!" I shoved at him, more angry than scared. "When are you going to get it? I'm not interested!"
"You again?"
I spun around at the familiar voice. It was Ragnar, with Skorpa and Erik just behind him.
"Skade!" Brida cried, realising now that I wasn't with them.
"Move." Skorpa stepped past Ragnar. What happened next was so fast I barely had time to breathe. Skorpa grabbed Haeston by the fronts of his jacket, and smashed his forehead into the man's face. Haeston fell back, howling, with blood gushing from his nose. He stumbled to his knees. Skorpa swept me away from the crowd towards a taxi. Erik opened its door for us and after we slid into it, he slammed it closed.
"Drive," Skorpa said.
The car pulled into the street. As I looked up, I caught sight of a pair of terrified dark eyes in the rear-view mirror.
"Hey, Sihtric." I shot him a smile.
"W-where do you want to go?"
"Um—" I glanced at Skorpa.
"That's up to you. I know you said that idiot knows where you live, but I don't think he'll be too keen to follow you now." He smirked.
"Sihtric, just take me to my flat," I said. "And relax. Skorpa doesn't bite."
