Hello Everyone! I have missed you all! I am back with the follow up story to No Matter What. It's been a very long time coming but I am back and ready to go with the continued story. I hope you enjoy! Once again I own nothing of the True Blood universe except for my Aurea.
The town lay before them…. the woods helping retain their dark shadowy cover. The winter snow fell softly as the smoke from the chimneys left soft white clouds in the sky.
Fangs glistened in the moonlight while sets of eyes emitted the softest glow, watching quietly as the members of the small town hurried into their homes, for warmth and protection from the evils of the night.
More specifically…. from them.
The last door had shut alerting them to the deserted town below. They quietly stepped out of the woods and made their way down the hill. Amongst them, a woman set her eyes on one home in particular, the home of an elderly woman. She knocked on the door, her gaze slowly drifting back to the pairs of fangs glistening in the moonlight from the alley across the street.
"Can I help you, dear?"
She turned her eyes back to the elderly lady at the door. She shivered underneath her cloak as she pulled her eyes into a whimpering gaze. She made her bottom lip quiver as the tears immediately took over. She gasped as she let a small whimper fall from her throat.
"Could…I am sorry, but could I ask for your help?" she cried, wiping away the tears as they fell from her eyes.
"Of course, dear." coddled the elderly woman. "Please, come in. You must be deathly cold."
She smiled sinfully as she stepped into the house, the warmth from the fire warming her bones instantly. The elderly woman ushered her over to the fire, helping her sit down on a small chair before rushing to the kitchen. She returned with a steaming hot cup of tea, carefully handing it over to the young woman.
"Thank you, so much." said the young woman. "I can't thank you enough for your hospitality."
"It is my pleasure, dear. No one should be out in this blistering cold." smiled the older woman. "If I may ask, why is a young beautiful woman like you out there at this time of night?"
"My carriage broke down." uttered the young woman. "My husband and I…. something scared our horses causing our carriage to run off the road. My husband is still out there now trying to coax the horses out of the woods."
"Oh dear, we must get him here as soon as possible! The weather out there is no place for a young man, no matter how brave." said the old woman.
"I told him I would venture into town to look for help. I had told him of your kind nature in helping those less fortunate. I am hopeful he meets me soon so I know he is safe." she said, wiping away tears. "He is all I have in this world. If something were to happen to him- "
"I am sure he is just fine." reassured the elderly woman.
Just as she had spoken, a knock on the door caught the attention of the two women. The elderly woman smiled before standing and walking over to the door.
"You see, dear? I'm sure that is him." she said.
The door opened revealing a tall, exquisitely dressed man with eyes the color of the ocean. He smiled gently as he pulled his coat tighter around him, faking a shiver.
"You are Mrs. Traverston, am I correct?" he asked.
"I am, young man. I am to assume you are the husband to this worried little lady at my fireplace?" she asked with a smile.
"I am." he said, his eyes resting on the woman in question.
"Please come in." smiled the old woman.
"I am humbly thankful to you." he said, stepping over the threshold.
"It is my greatest love to help those in need. Please, this way." said the old woman, leading him towards the fireplace.
The old woman smiled as she watched the two love birds embrace. The young woman cried as her arms wrapped around his neck, his own arms wrapping around her waist.
"I was so worried about you!" exclaimed the young woman. "Being out there in this cold, all alone- "
"Shh my love. Everything is well. The horses are fine and waiting outside." he said.
"Oh please, I must insist you stay here for the evening." said the old woman. "It is much too cold out there this evening for you to travel, especially at this time of the night. Please, stay this evening, and tomorrow you may travel."
"I would feel as if we were intruding-" said the man.
"Nonsense! I welcome the company. It gets very lonely here with just myself." smiled the old woman. "My children never visit. They have happily moved on to begin their own lives elsewhere in this world."
"I am sorry to hear that." said the man. "It would be an honor to stay here this evening. I must insist I pay you for your hospitality."
"Oh nonsense, young man." laughed the old woman. "You are my guests, no money required. Come! Come, I will show you where you will sleep. Are you hungry?"
"Considerably." growled the man, his tongue sweeping across his lips.
"I believe I have some stew simmering in the kitchen. When you two are settled I would be delighted if you joined me in the kitchen." she said.
"We would be honored." said the young woman.
The small bedroom was nestled in the back of the upstairs hall, a small fireplace nestling a dying fire. He through wood onto the simmering flame, reviving the warmth as the young woman fixed her frazzled hair.
"How much longer will these games persist?" she asked, pinning back a lock of hair.
"I've already explained to you the importance of what we're doing." he said, adjusting his doublet. "You're not having a moment of morality, are you?"
"Of course not." she said, giving him a pointed look in the mirror. "I just feel as if these interruptions in other people's lives could be avoided. At least for a time."
"If we do that then we risk the chance of never catching the noble's eye." he said, wrapping his arms around her tight corseted waist. "We must make them believe or else our goal will fall farther and farther away from us."
"I understand." she nodded solemnly. "For tonight…wait until I am asleep."
"As you wish, min kärlek." he whispered, placing a soft kiss behind her ear. "Come, it's time for you to eat."
The young woman did feel her sense of morality rearing its ugly head as dinner with the elderly woman was pleasant and enjoyable. She knew she needed to brush aside her feelings and thoughts and remind herself that this was for the greater good. At least…. for their greater good.
She had thanked the elderly woman before retiring, her husband continuing to feed covert lies of her being tragically tired and still recovering from her shock due to the incident earlier in the night. She closed the door to their bedroom, hearing the sounds of the old woman's cries as the door clicked shut.
She would never get used to that part. Never get used to the sounds made out in the darkness…the sounds of sacrifice for their greater good. Her mind went hard again at the thought of why they were truly here…. for the man who had taken everything away from her.