Supernatural Symphony

by Megan 74

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Godric/OC

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of The Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood. I just play with them before returning them to their rightful owners.

Summary: A pianist with a problem of her own meets a young man who seems awfully interested in her. Problem is, he's so pale, and so cool to the touch, and so terribly old-fashioned. What's a girl to do about this strange suitor? Godric/OC. Set before the Great Revelation.

A/N: Since I'm stuck on how to incorporate season 3 into my main story After the Last Breath, I decided to please the muse and write something else for a while. And since so many of my readers have told me how much they liked reading a Godric/OC romance, that's what I'm writing for you all. This story is set before the Great Revelation (so humans have no clue about vampires), and it explores all the angles of a human-vampire relationship. I hope you all enjoy reading it!

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My name was called and I inhaled a deep breath before I walked out on stage. Applause welcomed me and I offered the audience a nervous smile before I seated myself behind the piano. The Meyerson Symphony Center was packed, but that was no surprise. The annual performance by the music graduates was an immensely popular event.

The conductor looked at me and I gave him a small nod to let him know I was ready. I positioned my hands over the keys and waited until The Dallas Symphony Orchestra struck the first notes of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto 1.

The second the horns echoed through the hall I was transformed. My anxiety vanished and my body readied itself for the performance. Strings were next and I briefly closed my eyes to take in the moment.

My fingers struck the keys with determination and at once nothing mattered save for the music.

I was no longer myself. I was merely a part of an instrument, that together with numerous other instruments created one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed.

This was the moment I'd been waiting for. Performing Tchaikovsky with a symphony orchestra had been my dream for such a long time, and so often the dream had been on the brink of staying but a dream forever.

But here I was, playing as though my life depended on it, and in some ways it did. It didn't matter anymore that this might be my only chance to ever perform with a symphony orchestra.

I was here, in the moment, playing Tchaikovsky, and I was happier than I'd ever been.

When my fingers struck the very last notes, there was silence for all of three seconds, and then applause thundered through the hall. I got up from my stool and took a grateful bow. I was trembling now, from relief and elation and also from grief. This had been my moment, and it had just ended.

I waited in the backstage area with my fellow musicians. I drank a cup of tea and listened to the other performances, and finally the concert was over and the prizes were announced.

Third place went to a fabulous cellist, and second place to another pianist, and then the name for first place was announced and I almost dropped my cup of tea.

"And our first place award goes to Miss Celia Stojanovic, for her magnificent performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto! Please give her a huge round of applause."

My fellow musicians congratulated me and all but pushed me out on the stage. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. It had never been about prizes for me. All I'd wanted was to perform. So I was a little flabbergasted when the presenter handed me a ribbon and a large bouquet of flowers. The audience got to their feet to give me a standing ovation, several cameras flashed, and I smiled and bowed and wondered what the heck was going on.

And at once I was sad my parents weren't there. They'd have loved seeing me like this. But they lived halfway across the country and both their work schedules and financial status made it hard for them to fly out to Texas.

I smiled for several minutes more and then hurried off the stage. I'd had my moment in the spotlight, and that was more than enough for me.

Once in the dressing room, I changed out of my blue evening gown into a pair of jeans and yellow t-shirt, while more people congratulated me. I checked myself over in the mirror, making sure my long, strawberry blonde hair still looked presentable and my makeup wasn't out of place, and then I picked up my flowers, gown and purse and made to leave.

"We're going out to celebrate," Catherine (the third place cellist) said as I grabbed the doorknob. "Just a few drinks. You want to come?"

"Nah," I said with a brave smile. "I'm tired, and besides, I can't leave my dog alone for too long." Which was completely bullshit. Elmo, my Bull Terrier, was the laziest dog that had ever been born, and he probably wouldn't mind if I took an unscheduled weekend trip to the Bahamas as long as he could spend that time sleeping on my couch. But I was tired. I just hated drawing attention to that, hence the pitiful excuses.

Catherine gave me a knowing smile, and I waved at everyone else and left the dressing room in a hurry.

I found my car where I'd left it in the parking lot, but as I approached it I realized it came with a new accessory.

A young man was standing beside it. A very pale young man dressed in an expensive grey suit, who gave me a charming smile the moment I noticed him. I slowed my pace and wondered if he might be a serial killer or opportunistic rapist or something. Hey, I was a girl living alone. You could never be too careful.

"Good evening," the young man said pleasantly.

I offered him a wavering smile and willed him to move already so I could get into my car.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on your wonderful performance," the young man said, and he sounded sincere enough. Perhaps he was just an audience member who wanted to wish me well. One could hope. "I don't think I've ever heard Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto performed with so much...life."

"Thank you," I muttered, and stopped a few feet away from him. He was standing right in front of my car door, so I couldn't escape him.

"My name is Godric," he said, and I blinked. Who named their kid Godric in this day and age, seriously? "I was wondering if you'd like to get a cup of coffee with me." And Godric gestured vaguely towards a diner I knew was located across the street.

"I don't drink coffee," I said, in an extremely lame attempt to brush him off.

"Well, I'm sure they'll serve something you do drink," Godric said, and he offered me a hopeful smile.

I sighed. I was tired, yes, but I was also empty. Now that I'd lived my dream, the one thing I'd been working towards for the last four years, I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. My future was so uncertain. Yet here was a young man who wanted to, at least, socialize with me. I made myself no illusions that once he learned of my condition he'd run screaming for the hills, like all other guys had done before him, but perhaps I could just enjoy his company, at least for an hour or two.

"All right," I said with a polite nod. "As long as they serve tea, I'm in."

"I'm sure they do," Godric said and stepped away from my car to allow me to put my gown and flowers away. I did so quickly, and then clutched my purse and looked at Godric expectantly.

"This way," Godric said, and together we walked across the parking lot. I glanced at him a few times. He couldn't be more than twenty years old.

"I've been to many of these annual concerts," Godric said, and I looked at him with wide eyes. "I'm older than I look," he assured me with a grin. "But I have never enjoyed a performance quite like I've enjoyed yours."

"Thanks," I whispered, feeling just a tad overwhelmed. Maybe he was one of those stalkerish types? And the moment I thought that, I silently cursed myself. Why did I always have to think the worst of people? Godric was probably just a guy who enjoyed classical music; there were plenty of guys who did, after all. And here I was making him out to be the next Ted Bundy.

We crossed the street and made it to the diner without any problems. There were a few other concert goers at the diner, enjoying a cup of coffee, by the looks of their attire. Godric led me to a corner booth and we sat down opposite each other, Godric unbuttoning his suit jacket with practiced ease.

"What can I get y'all tonight?" the waitress asked. She was a woman in her forties with brown hair that was teased up just a bit too high, but that was no surprise here in Texas.

"A cup of tea, please," I said.

"And coffee for me, thank you," Godric said, and the waitress took off to get our order.

"How long have you played the piano?" Godric asked me just as the waitress put our drinks in front of us. Godric didn't add any cream or sugar to his coffee. He didn't even sip it, but just wrapped his hands around the mug.

"Since I was six," I said, and I took a careful sip from my mug. The tea was hot, but it tasted good, and since I was doing something I rarely ever did (having something to drink with a guy), I needed my small fix of caffeine. "My parents wanted me to play an instrument, and I liked piano best."

"You have a lot of talent," Godric said, and finally raised the mug to his lips. "Do you have a position with an orchestra somewhere now that you've graduated?"

I bit my lip. How to explain this without going into any details? Because those details would run Godric off at once, I had no doubt about that. "No," I said, and I tried to smile as though that didn't bother me one bit. "I'm still looking for something."

Godric narrowed his eyes and looked at me intently, as though he knew I was lying through my teeth. But he didn't comment. He just brought the mug to his lips again, but when he returned it to the table, I saw it was still full.

Noticing my stare, Godric leaned a little closer to me across the table and whispered, "It's not very good coffee."

I hid my grin behind my hand, but I couldn't hold back a giggle. "Well, the tea's good," I said, and toasted him with my mug. Godric returned the gesture, but didn't sip his mug again. How awful could coffee be, really?

"So," I said, shifting a little bit in my seat. "What do you do for a living?" That was a normal question to ask a guy, wasn't it? I had no clue, to be honest, because I'd not experienced many of these moments before in my life.

"I'm an entrepreneur," Godric said with confidence. "I own and co-own several businesses. Mostly bars and nightclubs."

"That explains why you don't get out in the sun much, huh?" I said, in a strange attempt at humour.

Godric blinked, and then offered me a peculiar smile. "I conduct most of my business at night, yes. I spend my days in bed."

I nodded. He was a night owl, apparently, but if he owned bars and nightclubs, that wasn't really a surprise. "You don't hear that often," I said, attempting to keep the conversation going. I just hated awkward silences. "A nightclub owner who appreciates classical music."

"I've been a supporter of The Dallas Symphony Orchestra for years," Godric said with a shrug. "I appreciate all kinds of music. What's your favourite piece by Tchaikovsky?"

"Oh," I said, and frowned. "That has to be Swan Lake."

Godric nodded in agreement. "Have you seen the ballet performed?"

I shook my head. "No, though I'd love to see it some day."

"I've seen it a few times," Godric said. "It's beautiful."

How old was this guy, if he'd seen Swan Lake performed more than once? I knew some men looked young, the baby-faced types, but then you could still usually tell they were older, but just had a youthful appearance. Yet Godric really did not look a day older than twenty. I decided not to question it further, but just enjoy my evening with this stranger. It wasn't often a guy paid me this kind of attention, after all.

We talked for a while longer about music, and I enjoyed the conversation immensely. Godric was familiar with all manner of classical works, even some I hadn't heard of before. He was also curious and polite, and he had a sophisticated sense of humour.

But at one point I yawned as the day really started to catch up with me, and Godric waved the waitress over at once.

"You must have had a long day," Godric said, as he paid the bill and left the waitress a generous tip, which surprised me, since the coffee had apparently been so awful Godric hadn't touched it at all.

"Yeah, we started with rehearsals early this morning," I explained with an apologetic smile. I'd have really liked to spend more time with Godric but I was just getting too tired.

"I will walk you back to your car," Godric said, and he offered me his arm in an old-fashioned gesture that made me giggle. I linked my arm through his and together we walked out of the diner. We didn't say anything as we crossed the street and made our way across the parking lot back to my car. Most other cars were gone by now, and I realized if Godric wanted to hurt me he could easily do so without anyone seeing a thing.

Ugh. Stop it already. This wasn't Ted Bundy. I shook myself and reluctantly let go of Godric's arm when we reached my car.

"I'd like to see you again, Celia," Godric said as he looked deep into my eyes.

Ah, crap. For a moment, I wanted to cry, but I pulled myself together. I had to tell him now. I'd tried not telling a guy right away once, but then he'd found out from someone else (universities just thrived on gossip) and it had been a less than pleasant experience.

"Look," I said, desperately trying to look for the right words. "I really enjoyed your company, but I don't go out with guys."

"Are you a lesbian?" Godric asked curiously.

"What? No!" I squeaked. I crossed my arms and stared at the concrete beneath my feet. "I just...I have a condition. And it's transmissible through sex." And I blushed beet red and didn't dare look up.

"What condition?" Godric asked softly.

"A chronic liver infection. From the Hepatitis C virus," I whispered.

"How did you get this virus?"

I sighed. "When I was very young I was in a car accident and needed a blood transfusion," I said automatically. I'd said that so often before it didn't upset me anymore. "That's how I got it. And it's been messing up my life ever since."

Godric kept silent, and I finally looked up at him. "That's why I can't - "

"Can it be transmitted through a kiss?" Godric asked, cutting me off.

"No," I said. "Only through blood on blood contact, or through sex, though there are some scientists who dispute that now, but I'm not willing to take that risk."

Godric nodded. "Good," he said, and then he stepped closer and kissed me.

I stood frozen to the ground, not quite able to comprehend what he was doing. Godric wrapped an arm around my waist, and cupped the back of my head with his hand, and he pulled me closer as he teased my lips with his tongue. I opened my mouth a little, and then we were kissing. Really kissing, like I'd never been kissed before.

I moaned and clutched at Godric's shoulders, and just let him swipe me off my feet with his lips and his tongue. My body tingled in all the right places and when things started clenching and tightening between my legs I had to pull back.

I couldn't do this. Because we couldn't take it further, no matter I really wanted to at that moment.

Godric licked his lips. "I really want to see you again, Celia."

"I would like that, too," I said, before I could stop myself.

Godric offered me a bright smile, and released me. He reached inside his suit jacket and produced a business card and a pen. He scribbled a cell phone number on the back of the card and then handed it to me.

"Please call me," Godric said as I accepted the card with a shy smile. "We need not do anything you're not comfortable with, but I would like to enjoy your company once more."

"All right," I said, and fumbled with my purse for a moment as I tucked the card away and got out my car keys. "Thanks for the tea."

"You are most welcome," Godric said with a curt nod of his head. "Thank you for such a riveting performance." He stepped away from the car, so I could get in behind the wheel. I closed the door, smiled at him and turned the ignition. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I looked in my rear view mirror to get a last glimpse of Godric, but he wasn't there.

I checked my side mirrors to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but no, Godric really gone, as though he'd vanished into thin air.

Huh.

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A/N: If anyone is interested in listening to Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto 1, check out my profile page. I'll post a Youtube link there. It really is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed, if I do say so myself. The next chapter should be up in a few days. Thanks for reading, everyone! And let me know what you think. Reviews keep me writing.