Chapter One: You say hello

Jason became uncomfortable as he stared at the vampire. He looked so young until one was to meet his eyes, where the weight of the years had gathered and washed out the spark. He began to turn away when he heard his soft voice.

"You helped save many lives today, Mr. Stackhouse. Please know you have friends in this area whenever you visit." Although the words were kind, Godric showed little expression as he spoke.

Sookie watched the conversation from afar, wondering if she should step in to aid her brother, feeling exhausted at the very thought. She watched her brother squirm under the vampire's blank expression, and felt that she would be ok to let him fend for himself on this one. She looked around for Bill; he seemed to be avoiding her at all costs at the party. She wondered to herself how someone that wronged her could treat her as if she been the one that had offended him.

A shuffle at the end of the room distracted Sookie from her thoughts, and she watched Hugo being dragged into the room in front of Godric. She strained to pay attention; it seemed as the room was riveted to the scene, but she could not help staring across at Bill as she tried to catch his eye. The distance of the room seemed a perfect metaphor for the loneliness she felt at this moment. Sookie turned briefly to watch Hugo being dragged from the room, relieved to know that compassion existed in someone as strong as the vampire that had come to her rescue that very same evening.

The party went on for an hour or so afterwards, with a tension in the air that kept the normal atmosphere of a party at bay. No one was sure how the building became surrounded, as it was full of beings that are known for keen senses. It seemed the sadness of the sheriff had caused a cloud for all those in the room, a cloud which buried them.

The men that surrounded the building looked to be barely out of high school. They held their guns close to them, as if they would protect them from the creatures that they could see milling around inside. Despite their shaky, noisy steps through the yard they had so far remained unnoticed – and they allowed this small favor to fill them with a flimsy confidence.

"What do you think Matt? Just start shooting? Should we all go at once or some kind of pattern?" Keith's pimply face seemed to bob in excitement as he pummeled their unofficial leader with questions.

"Quiet!" Matt hissed. "Do you want to send a tidal wave of those freaks on us?"

"Aw, man calm down. It's not like those fangers care about anything other than their sex party in there."

"They are having a sex party?" Tim squeaked. He was by far the youngest, still being in his sophomore year.

"That's why those fang bangers show up, Tim" Keith rolled his eyes at his companion's foolishness. "They love the undead to just take em and.."

"Quiet." Matt repeated and the boys fell silent as they waited for his plan to fully form in his head.

Inside the house the talk was slowly becoming hushed and slowed. Although humans and vampires alike noticed this change, they were slow to realize what was going on. Eric walked quickly towards his maker, who had risen from the chair which he had used to receive his guests just moments before.

"Godric?" Eric questioned, finding himself almost forcing the words from his mouth. "What kind of magic is that I feel? What kind of friends have you made…." Eric was not one to question his maker in the past, but the events from the past day had slowly made him question the man he felt was a part of him.

Godric sighed and began to scan the room. "They are here, something is happening." Godric mumbled these vague statements to himself as much as his child. He felt the effects of the magic as well as his own personal apprehension, anger and excitement.

It was then that the party noticed the boys on outside of the walls, seemingly appearing out of the mist. In a flash they turned to the doors, but were stopped when a quiet and commanding voice commanded them to stop. It was then they noticed the forms that were appearing before the young militia outside. They appeared to be nothing more than wisps of smoke, but as they solidified they took the forms of men and women.

It was at this point that the music began, although it started more as a feeling which then morphed into a sound. Peace and calm was spread upon all that were in the home, and the eyes in the room became hooded while small smiles formed on their faces.