Keep Me
Prologue
April 17, 2038
"I offer myself as a sacrifice if you let Godrick go." I felt myself yell no and from the looks of everyone around me, I didn't yell it to myself, I screamed those words aloud. Oh God, did I really just do that. It was Eric's gaze whose was locked with mine though, his murderous, angry gaze that had me retreating to the front door but I couldn't leave him, not when I felt as I did about him and damn him for making me feel this way and not returning it. I looked over at the leader of this so called church. Fellowship of the Sun, that bastard was going to die and I vowed to myself it would be by my hands.
"What makes you think we want you, leech?" his eyes locked with mine, his gaze full with nothing but mockery.
"I'm the president of area six, the largest area in the vampire world." you could smell the excitement as it poured out of his pores, it took all I had not to walk over and snatch his heart out of his chest with my bare hands, he looked back at my architect, the vampire who made me, Dallas, his name was a compliment to the city he loved so much, dressed in an all black cowboy outfit, his short black hair, covered by the matching black cowboy hat. What they were doing would be unknown to anyone who wasn't a vampire but I knew he was sending a mental command but what I or anyone but the two of them weren't aware of until Dallas made his way to me, his eyes looked down at me, his eyes filled with sympathy.
"Come with me," he grabbed my arm, I was so close to snatching away from him but Dallas hated it when I defied him in public, in private he was more accepted of it but when we were in public it would taint his take no prisoner attitude but I knew I was the one person he cared for, maybe even loved. I had only been a vampire for six years, which compared to his 437 years made me feel like a child. He made me because he claimed, my blood tasted nasty and he didn't want to kill me but I just laughed at him, I didn't know why he turned me and honestly I didn't care. He was one of the very few people in my life who cared about me and for that I devoted my life to him, I killed for him and would do it again but right now he was standing between me and the man I had given my heart to.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked when we were alone.
"You're going home." I looked in his eyes and saw the hurt.
"He told you to send me home. That coward!" I snatched my arm away from him. "Dallas you can't let him take his own life," I didn't cry but the thought of Eric giving his life, never being here would send me into a crying hysteria.
"Dana, just go," his voice was a soft order, one I had no intention of following but I wouldn't let him know that, he was needed in there not out here arguing with me.
"Fine." I stated, not showing any emotion, my face was hooded and the sunglasses I wore were my protection against the world. My long jet black hair pulled into a ponytail, I never let it down, never would unless I was sleep. "Go and stop staring at me Dallas," Dallas was more of an older brother than the father he was suppose to be to me. He turned and before my eyes he flew back into the church. I wanted to scream in outrage as I jumped onto the roof of the church, I didn't allow myself to clump down on the roof instead I hovered above it less than a inch as I looked through the glass ceiling down as Eric laid down and let them place the small chain of steal against his skin, I cringed as I watched it sizzle.
I caught eyes with my best friend Jessica, her red hair flowing down her back like a tamed fire, her blue eyes smiled as she noticed me, she was 5'8 as was I. Jessica and I had been made about the same time, she belonged to Bill Compton, but the reason he changed her was because he was sentenced to, he had brown hair and matching eyes, he was very good looking but then again most vampires were, like it was an unwritten rule that you didn't change someone on the short end of the looks department, he stood at 5'11 maybe, he was shorter than most men but that didn't take anything away from the air of death that surrounded him every time his girlfriend, Sookie, a human who stood at his side crying, was in trouble. I always laughed at the thought of having a human boyfriend. I wouldn't dare the thought even; humans in my eyes were all the same, evil. Even though I did like Sookie, she wasn't much older than Jessica and I and we all went out all the time, shopping, dancing, and all the other girly stuff. Sookie was one of the few humans who were completely comfortable around our type; I would almost say she preferred to be around us than her own kind. She stood at 5'6 maybe, she had shoulder length blond hair and dark brown eyes, she didn't take anything from anyone and I loved that about her and she really loved the vampire next to her, Mr. Bill Compton, the vampire was more human than vampire I had ever seen.
My eye trailed to the preacher, dressed in a peach suit, I felt my fangs retracting, I would kill him now but I knew he was off limits an order given by the highest counsel. I couldn't think of his name at the moment. Eric looked in pain, he was 867 years old and looked at me sometimes as if I were nothing more than a child other times though he looked at me like I was all that matter, his blonde hair was sprawled around him, his chest was bare, his green eyes looking up at something in the sky but what I wasn't sure, I loved him against every fight I had wedge within myself, I loved him and even though he wouldn't return the love, I was going to protect him one way or another and then after that when my ten years was up I was going to leave area six, ten years was the sentence every newborn vampire was given, in those ten years you had to stay with your architect . Eric was a superior to me and in our world, you respected your superiors but like in my human life, I listened only when I felt the need, to listen other than that I did what I wanted, when I wanted and it got me in trouble so much, Jessica along with me because she felt a need to protect me, she would die for me and I for her.
There were maybe two dozen vampires inside and more than that on the outside, the humans though they double us in numbers right now but with our super strength, speed, and the fact that we ate them, it seemed like an easy fight. I watched as they brought Godrick up, he was bleeding profusely from cuts looked to be given by a long whip, but I knew that wasn't possible, a mere leather whip would do nothing but tickle against our bodies unless . . . unless they had a whip made of steal. The preacher boy talked but I knew what he was doing, he was stalling for time, stalling for the sun.
"He's stalling for time, Jessica. Tell Dallas to do something now before the sun comes," she gave a quick nod.
"Dana, what are you doing here, still?" it was Eric's voice, why was he still worried about where I was when he would die soon.
"Don't worry about it, you coward." I heard him growl and smiled as we made eye contact, I knew he hated it when I called him names, most superiors hated to be disrespected especially by those of us who were younger than them but right now I needed him mad, I needed him ready to fight.
"He wants to get Godrick first." that was Jessica.
"An hour and a half to sun rise, get him out of here Jess." Jessica had the ability to teleport, some vampires had special abilities such as teleporting, being able to see into the future, others could hear transmission between vampires, other could read minds, some could g and she was one.
"Waiting on Dallas and Bill to give the order" but something in her voice told me she would do it soon even without it, I knew teleporting took a lot out of Jessica, she was only able to do it a couple times a night and with her having to take someone with her, she'd wouldn't be back for the fight, I smiled. Too bad for her because as soon as the first hit took place I was going to jump right in the middle.
"What did you call me?" I smiled again as his eyes locked with mine.
"You heard me, you sent Dallas after me . . . I never took you for a coward." I saw him rebelling against the steal, it wasn't noticeable but I saw it. I was waiting for them to get Godrick out of there before I pushed him further. Godrick was Eric's architect and one of the highest members of the council, how they captured him is a mystery to us all.
"Give us Godrick," Bill said as he motioned for Jessica to move towards him, Godrick's eyes looked at her and smiled.
"Just wait." the preacher spoke. He was really riding my nerves. I felt Eric poking at my mind but I was blocking him and I knew he hated that.
"Dana go home," I didn't say anything because I had no intention of leaving him if that meant me dying on the roof of this church, I would die. I watched as Jessica got close enough so that she could reach out and touch Godrick but the overly large human wasn't letting him go, which meant if Jessica teleported, he would come too, I knew she could take him down easily by herself but with her teleporting with Godrick, I knew she wouldn't be able to.
"Where are you going when you teleport?"
"To Bill's house where T.J. is waiting," I smiled T.J. was her boyfriend and he was just plain mean at times and would kill the human whether he deserved it or not.
"I'm going to come back for Eric."
"No you're not!" I yelled mentally at her. "You could die. Stay your ass at home and Eric is going to get himself home."
"How can you be so sure?" she doubted that but I heard the trust in me.
"Trust me, he'll be pissed but he'll be there before the sun rises."
"Be careful Dana."
"Dana!" Eric yelled, and I laughed and made sure he could hear it. "Go. Home." he growled.
"I'm not leaving here without you Eric."
"Dana don't play with me."
"You'll watch me burn E, right before your eyes because I won't leave you."
"God damn you Dana!" I thought I was dreaming but from the looks of everyone around him I wasn't, he said those words aloud, as he fought with the restraints. I saw Jessica disappear with Godrick and the large man, the other vampires descended to Eric as he fought and roared. I knew when he got free he would kill me but I didn't care as long as he lived. I looked over at Dallas, he was snapping necks and I smiled, he would be overly charged when we got home and probably bite me a new butt hole too for disobeying him but I wouldn't care. When Dallas looked at me, I caught his silent order for me to get my ass down there and help Eric. I came crashing down through the glass I stood on the slab he was on, my feet on both sides of him. I didn't care to even look around, if anyone dares to touch him anymore tonight they would die at my hands. His eyes shot furious daggers at me.
"Oh, stop being a baby and get up so we can go," he bucked under me, his blood starting to pour from his wrist and ankles. I saw a woman approaching with a stake in her hand; I jumped down and sneered at her. I saw the flash of fear in her eyes, and that and that alone stopped me from killing her as she retreated. I turned back to Eric and sat next to him, he growled and I almost winced. I looked and saw Sookie defending herself and smiled because the moves she was using Jessica and I had taught her, I saw the surprised look on Bill's face as he watched her.
"I'm going to kill you." Eric's hard voice snapped behind me.
"You better hurry because the sun just might beat you." I heard the chain snap, and smiled back at him. "Who would have thought a coward was so strong?" I heard the others break as he snarled.
"Get him out of here!" Dallas yelled as another teleported appeared before him.
"He's to go where Godrick is" I said it lightly and didn't dare say the location aloud but the quick nod the male vampire gave me said he understood and knew. Eric made his advance to me.
"No time to fight E, go before the sun really kills us," he hated it when I called him E, once they had disappeared, I ran for the door as did the other vampires. I got on my motorcycle but was quickly snatched off and thrown into a car. I looked over and saw Dallas sneering at me as we raced onto the freeway. I didn't say anything we had thirty minutes for a twenty minute ride and the way Dallas was driving we'd make it in ten.
"I'm only going to ask this once, what the hell is going on between you and Eric?" his question caught me off guard but the tone of his voice made me shiver.
"Nothing Dallas, I swear it to you."
"Did you sleep with him?"
"No Dallas."
"How did you get him to fight? Why didn't he want you to see him chained down? Why was he so worried when you wouldn't leave?"
"I don't know Dallas, I don't. I got him to fight because I made him angry," he huffed at that.
"That wasn't the reason he was fighting Dana," he snarled but said nothing else. I looked around confused as we passed our home.
"Where are we going?"
"Bill Compton's home."
"No! Didn't you hear me, he's angry with me. He'll try to kill me."
"Yeah that's exactly what he'll do. Kill the reason he fought. Kill the reason he's alive." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"I'm not the reason he fought." I sank back into the chair. "I'm staying in the car; the windows will protect me from the sunlight."
"No the hell you will not."
I paced back and forward, waiting for them to walk through that door, Dallas had better be here before the sun rose, I had made sure to give that order to him before I left. When I arrived at Bill's home, Godrick was feeding on the very human, who was holding him in chains. I came down and drunk from him when I saw him, and once I had enough strength. I left him to Godrick to finish off. Jessica was lying on the couch with her head in T.J's when I came in, she looked exhausted, I walked over to her and she smiled.
"I see she got you here."
"It would appear so." I sat down but stood back up, all the lights were out, the windows covered with thick black curtains, the only light was that coming from the television. I looked and saw Chucky, the vampire who had brought me in, his eyes fixated on the sports channel.
"Pacing isn't going to get her here any faster," I looked over and saw Godrick; he was dressed in brown slacks and a beige shirt. He looked better than new.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about," he smiled.
"She's a very smart girl. I heard her taunting you, coward, was it she called you?" I heard Jessica stifle a laugh. Godrick could hear vampire's transmission. Just then the door opened; enter Bill, Sookie, Dallas, Curtis, and Edward but no Dana. I snarled but I kept myself at bay because I sensed her near, but where she was I couldn't place it yet. She was in the house. Jessica told T.J. she was ready to retire to her bedroom, he lifted her to his arms but quickly zoomed her, Sookie went up the stairs, telling Bill she was too also tired she kissed his lips, hugged Godrick and stared at me. I hated to be touched, she just smiled but something in her eyes said more as she slowly went up the stairs.
"Shall we go to the basement for a drink?" Bill offered as T.J. came back down the stairs but he didn't follow us, he stayed back with Curtis, Edward and Chucky. When the four of us were safely in the basement, Dallas, Godrick, Bill and I. Dallas went to the bar, snatched a cup along with the whiskey and poured him a glass.
"What the fuck is going on with you and Dana?" he snarled the words; I fought back the need to return the snarl.
"Nothing." I sat down; they all looked at me with unbelieving eyes, except Godrick looked amused.
"How did you break the chains?" Godrick asked. "What gave you the will to fight because before I left you looked honor to take the punishment?" he cocked his head but I didn't answer him.
"Where is she? I told you to have her here." a voice I didn't recognize spoke but I knew it was mine.
"She is here; she's too damn scared to face you right now." I scoffed; Dana was anything but scared of me.
"Dana is not scared of me."
"I didn't say of you, dip shit."
"Behave children," Godrick spoke. "We have more pressing issues at hand. Our people are in danger," and just like that the thoughts of Dana faded to the back of my mind, although they didn't disappear. I didn't know if I wanted to kill her, kiss her, or kick her. She was going to drive me insane and besides that the fact that she wasn't good enough for me wouldn't be ignored.
I was in Jessica's room, she was lying in the bed next to me asleep and my heart ache for what it felt, I felt him when he was tugging between his emotions to hurt or hold me. I felt him when he came to the realization that I wasn't good enough but how? Jessica said before she went to sleep.
"I feel T.J all the time, and he says he feels me. I think it has something to do with our love but you can block it out." I scoffed at that, it was something to do with being a vampire and I was going to see Doc, as soon as I could. Something was wrong with me and I wanted to know what, now, as for Eric, he could go to hell, if he didn't want me, if I wasn't good enough then fine. I wasn't one to keep something or someone who didn't want to be kept. It hurt to know I was in love with a man, willing to die for a man, who didn't and wouldn't feel the same way I did.
I couldn't take it anymore as I got up, I looked at the clock it read 2:30, the house wouldn't wake for another three hours, which was good because I needed some time alone. I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen, I walked over to the refrigerator and opened it, there was human food but also blood, Bill kept on hand at all times, I took out one of the pouches and poured it into a cup, I opened the microwave, I placed my finger in the cold blood and tasted it, I grimaced.
"That's just nasty;" I put the blood in the microwave and set it for three minutes.
"What are you doing up?" I turned and saw Edward, he was 6'2, bronze hair that always seemed to be perfect, his skin was pale but it worked out for him very nicely, he had amber eyes. He was wearing pajama pants and an opened robe.
"I should be asking you the same thing," I started to pull down the over size t-shirt, Dallas kept in his truck but decided against it, he had already seen me anyway.
"I'm always up around this time."
"I couldn't sleep, nothing like sleeping in my own bed," I shrugged as I sat at the island, my back to the door. Edward sat next to me.
"I don't ever think I've seen you with your hair down," he ran his fingers through my hair and it did feel good. I could smell his want and I smiled.
"That's because I never wear it down . . . it always gets in the way when I'm riding. . ." I trailed off as I thought of my bike, that damn church was probably destroying it.
"I drove it over, it's outside," I breathed out a breath of relief.
"I could kiss you, that bike is my baby."
"I wouldn't mind the kiss." I smiled up at him, as the ding of the microwave broke our eye contact, he handed me the drink. I took a sip, this was no where as fulfilling as the real thing but it would do. Edward smiled at me.
"What?"
"I do the same thing when I drink it."
"What?"
"Reminisce about the real thing," I laughed.
"Doesn't compare even in the smallest detail."
"Not even a little." he leaned forward and licked the corner of my mouth. "Hmmm, even better" and then the hairs on my neck stood as I heard a snarl behind us.
"Edward, could you excuse us," Eric spoke. "I need to speak in private with Dana," I rolled my eyes.
"Actually I was heading off to bed." I stood and saw the confusion in his eyes.
"No you're not." he grabbed my arm, since he was older than me, he was stronger. I had a mind to slap him with my other hand but instead I just relaxed and allowed him to speak.
She stared up at me, at first there was nothing but defiance in her eyes but soon she covered it and her hazel eyes, went blank.
"How can I help you Eric?" she called me Eric, she never did that, even when I yelled and screamed at her to stop, she never did but now she did and I cared? I looked at her almond shaped eyes, her full pouty lips, her high cheek bones; this woman could give Tyra Banks a run for her money in the looks department. She still had a trace of the blood, Edward licked at her face for. I had almost ripped his tongue from his mouth when I saw that.
"Are you looking for the words to explain to me, of how you think I'm not good enough for you" she smiled but even in the smile, I saw her hurt. "There's no need for it, consider yourself freed of this burden," I released her arm, and she sipped at her cup.
"You were willing to die with me?" she smiled.
"No, it was just a tactic," I knew she was lying and I felt like a jackass but it was too late the damage was already done. I watched as she walked out the kitchen and back up the stairs and exhaled, I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath.