Brighter than the Sun
Chapter 1 - In the Belly of the Beast
Author's Note:
1. This story changes points of view (POVs) rather often, but not to worry, it will always be labelled. :)
2. Italics = Thoughts of the character(s) in that moment. Eric and Godric are able to communicate telepathically when the bond is open, so their thoughts are more frequently pieces of dialogue instead of small monologues.
3. Bold = reserved for the rare words that need extra emphasis.
4. If by any chance you read my previous story, Another Chance, before I removed it, thank you. This story is what Another Chance was supposed to be, but somehow Another Chance was never able to grow the way this story has. I apologize to all those readers who I left hanging and hope that this story will more than make up for it.
5. In case you missed the rating and warning in the summary, this story is rated M for a reason. If you are like the Fae and sensitive to lemony goodness, now is the perfect time to hit the lovely little arrow key in the left-hand corner at the top of the browser window. I trust you to know what is best for you.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy Brighter than the Sun! Please help me make this story even better by reviewing.
Love always, artemis6118
Sookie POV
It was hard to breathe, let alone scream, as I struggled and thrashed in Gabe's grip, trying unsuccessfully to get away from the monster in front of me. The vile thoughts in his brute mind pounded into my own brain and my stomach clenched in disgust as the faces of his former victims clouded my vision. I tried unsuccessfully to ward off his relentless fists in his attempt to beat me into submission, using whatever I had left to defend myself. I knew physically I was going to lose this fight, but I refused to let Gabe win. I'm a Stackhouse for Christ's sake! Remembering the slash marks I had seen on Gran's arms from where she had obviously fought against Rene before she died, I gathered courage from my memory of her, and I lashed out at whatever part of him I could reach while still held in his vice-like grip. His other hand clawed at the front of my dress, ripping apart the stitches and causing the buttons to fall like rain across the cement floor.
"What? You'll spread your legs for a dead man but a live one's not good enough for ya? You fangbangin' whore!"
Bill! Where are you?! Help! I need you! My blows were ineffective against his bulk and as I tried to get loose when the grip on my neck suddenly released but he shoved me down, pinning me in place with his weight. I continued to struggle as hard as I could when I felt his meaty paws headed lower on my exposed body before I heard the unmistakable sound of a zipper. My protest was cut off by the force of the back of his hand as it connected with my cheek, slamming my head against the hard floor and my world went black.
When I regained consciousness a couple seconds later, he was gone.
Pulling the shredded remnants of my dress around me, I hurriedly backed up against the crates on the wall, trying to curl myself into a ball, and anxiously glanced around for my attacker. I thought I was going to pass out again because my heart was beating so hard, when I spotted him dangling, suspended in the air, less than two feet from me.
Godric POV
"G-G-G-Godric! It's me! Gabe!"
Without remorse or hesitation, I snapped his neck and dropped his vile corpse on the basement floor next to Isabel's human. Gabe did not deserve to live. Rape was one of the only atrocities that I had not committed in my two thousand years as a vampire. Not only was the act of forcing yourself sexually upon another the nadir of all brutality, but I painfully remembered from my human existence the extensive damage it caused long after all physical signs of the trauma had passed. I diverted my mind from those dark memories by looking over at the woman huddled against the wall who seconds ago had been screaming and fighting as well as she could, I was sure. Her golden blonde hair although tangled after her recent struggle was similar in color to my own beloved child's. I followed the trail of bruises and cuts down her body with my eyes trying to see the extent of the damage Gabe had done. The area under her right eye was cut and starting to bruise, her jawline on the same side was beginning to swell from the blood pooling beneath the skin, and at the corner of her mouth there was a small dribble of blood. Fingerprints seemed tattooed in purple across her neck and on her arms where the human had manhandled her. Except for her skin below her knees, the rest of her was hidden from view by what appeared to have once been a blue dress, which she clutched about her as if the thin fabric could somehow shield her. Judging by her shallow breathing and the winces she made, she probably had a broken rib or two. The woman must have had more injuries elsewhere as I scented a startling amount of what I assumed to be her blood, ripe with recent fear and the subdued hint of something sweet that I couldn't quite place.
The woman began to gingerly get up, she wavered unsteadily once she was on her feet. Without thinking I moved to her side, pulling her body to mine wrapping my arms gently around her lower back to prevent her from falling. I unconsciously relaxed into her warmth, something about this strong woman drew me in and it was as if simply being in her presence somehow dissipated the growing void inside of me. My protective instincts towards this human surprised even me. Why does she make me feel - Her beautiful quiet voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Godric?"
How did she know my name? I nodded, mesmerized by the sound of her voice saying my name, when I heard Eric glamouring the guards at the door. Eric must have sent Hugo and her in here for me. "You should not have come." Why would Eric send humans after me? Surely, he did not think that I would need them if I had so desired to leave this place? Hugo and this young woman have suffered needlessly. I am sure the universe will rejoice when I leave after all the wrongdoings I have committed in this unnatural lifetime. The world will be a better place yet. There was a creak as the door at the top of the stairway opened, and the echo of footsteps grew exponentially louder as the man came closer.
"Bill?"
"No." I opened the bond enough for my child to sense my location and communicate with me telepathically for the first time in over three centuries. His side of the bond flooded with immediate relief before it changed to determination, confusion, sadness, and...guilt? "I'm here my child. Down here." Eric appeared, shock flashed across his face at the beautiful woman in my arms but he schooled his expression, kneeling before me.
"Godric."
His voice alone brought back so many memories. "You're a fool for sending humans after me."
"I had no other choice. These savages.. they seek to destroy you." It was the only way to infiltrate the church during the day. If those vermin have hurt you in any way, they will perish. If I had known where you were earlier, I would have turned this 'church' into rubble. Godric - I-
"I am aware of what they have planned." Min son. I have never questioned your loyalty. The only reason I had closed our bond was to prevent you any pain when the time arose. Now I sense it is too late for me to continue with my original plan. Adjustments shall be made in the time remaining.I sensed his confusion and quickly closed the emotional bond between us, I don't want him to feel the emptiness and darkness consuming me. I made sure to keep only our mental communication link open. I nodded towards Hugo, still lying face down on the cement. "This one betrayed you."
I was a little surprised as the human spoke up, addressing Eric without any formality. That in itself was a bit of a shock. Though what I found more shocking was her ability to speak so soon after the attack against her. She was a warrior. Many who have suffered such, often were unable to find their voices or regain their strength for years after. "He's with the Fellowship. They set a trap for us." She is quite beautiful, despite all that she has gone through. And her blood smells almost as delicious as drops from the Fae.
"How long has it been since you fed?" My son's concern for myself and the girl was obvious. And I felt more than heard her heartbeat quicken at the idea. Out of fear or anticipation?
"I require very little blood anymore." I slowly, reluctantly released my hold on the beauty before me. She seemed as reluctant to move as I was. Her sapphire orbs looked up at me in confusion.
"Take her with you. Keep her safe. Spill no blood on your way out. Go." I made the last word a command to ensure that Eric would obey. I hated taking away his choice but it was the only way to ensure their safety at the moment.
Enough harm has been done here tonight. We will talk later.
And with that I closed the mental link as well before watching to ensure he had heard. With a slight nod, he turned, reaching out for her. I couldn't help but to smirk as she rejected Eric's hand for the railing. That is the first time I have ever seen a woman reject his advances. She is something else. I stared at the girl for a moment longer then necessary, hoping I would get the chance to get better acquainted. My eyes of their own accord watched his perfect ass ascend the stairs as they left the basement. I finally turned to deal with Hugo's still unconscious form. After all this time, he was the traitor in the nest. Poor Isabel. I gingerly picked up Isabel's companion and carried him in my arms up the stairs. As I neared the sanctuary, my enhanced hearing picked up the sound of muffled sobs coming from the confessional. I dropped the unconscious traitor against the wall unceremoniously, as I smelled the cinnamon and spice scent of my second and looked in to see bloody tears dripping like faucets down her heart shaped face as she mourned her companion.
"Isabel?"
Startled, she glanced up. When she realized it was me, shock and shame flashed across her face and she tried to wipe away her tears. "Forgive me, Sheriff."
"Forgive what? You have done nothing wrong. Why the tears Isabel? Your human is a little bruised and is currently unconscious, yet his injuries are not severe as his attacker was distracted by the blonde who was with him. And although he was allied with the Fellowship in a plot to bring harm to our kind, I have not raised a hand against him." At this, her fangs ran down and her eyes seemed to darken in color in anger from their normal warm caramel to a dark deadly brown.
"No. He couldn't have. He-" Despite her feral appearance from her initial reaction to his betrayal, her voice cracked on another sob as she realized what this would mean for the human she loved and their future together.
"I leave him to you to deal with as he is your human. We will discuss his punishment later at the nest."
Relieved, Isabel stood and bowed her head, "Thank you Godric." She paused at the opening of the confessional with a hopeful and bloodthirsty look on her face, "And Hugo is...?"
"Beside the sanctuary wall." She nodded in gratitude and flitted off.
I rose from the confessional and moved to get a view of the commotion I heard coming from the sanctuary, as I felt a jolt of pain flash through the bond from my child.