Chapter 1
"What is your name?"
Francine tightened her hold around the handle of the gun. She didn't yet raise it, refusing to appear intimidated.
"Shut up."
Mentally, she applauded the strength in which her command came out. As powerful as holding a gun made her feel, she was smart enough to know it'd be useless against a vampire like the one she was guarding. Useless if she didn't use it right.
Two thousand years old, Laurie said. Could be messin' with me.
The dark haired vampire had yet to turn around and face her.
From the moment she padded down the basement steps, pulse throbbing like a jackhammer, he-the vampire- had been oddly silent. As convenient as the passive behavior was, Francine couldn't find it in her to fully relax around him.
She had heard the story. The vampire gave himself up willingly to the Fellowship. In the month that he'd been kept to the basement, there hadn't been a single violent incident. He didn't bite, he didn't fight, and he barely touched the Tru Bloods Gabe dropped off for him.
Steve Newlin considered him a gift from the Lord himself. A docile vampire who seemed to welcome death, so powerful was his contempt for life.
Francine found it difficult to adopt the same relaxation as the other Fellowship members. Did it not concern any of them how willingly the vampire gave himself up? Did none of them consider the fact that he may be biding his time? That he had an alternative agenda?
Hell, he very well may be a Trojan Horse. If that was the case-
Inhaling sharply through her nostrils, Francine raised her gun for the first time.
Newlin will be sore if I take care of him prematurely.
Her finger stroked the finger softly.
He ain't even watching. Just a quick little shot to the back of the head, like Uncle Cal taught me with the rabbits.
She kept her bottom lip trapped between her teeth; tense and focused.
For Laurie. For Joanna.
"Have I done something to upset you?"
Francine's eyebrows scrunched together. She hadn't expected him to sound...
"Something funny there, mister?" she snapped, taking a large step forward. "Cos I reckon I'm the one with the gun and if you start causing a fuss, we'll go find ourselves another bloodsucker."
Through the white tunic he wore, the vampire's shoulders lifted. Francine couldn't make out his temperament. While she had wanted to appear threatening, she also wanted to live until her twentieth birthday.
Should I just shoot him and get it over with? Newlin will understand.
"Why do I cause you such discomfort?"
She didn't acknowledge it, but the fact that he could pick out her emotional state without a glance, unnerved her.
"You really think I buy that you're some domestic little vampire, all fine and dandy with lettin' a vampire hate group roast him? I ain't that dumb. You're up to something. The moment I get wind of what it is, you'll be gettin' your wish to die."
Once more, the vampire's shoulders rose.
"That," he said softly, "is-
Her index finger, smeared with sweat, slipped. She pivoted backwards, hands shaking, ear drums temporarily shattering. The bullet sailed forward, striking the vampire on the back of his shoulder. Other than a gruff groan, the vampire barely acknowledged the bullet's existence, or the new wound blooming through the back of his shirt.
"Holy crap," she murmured, fingers unfurling.
The vampire didn't respond.
Francine's anxiety skyrocketed. She hadn't meant to shoot and now that the bullet was out, she fought the temptation to keep pulling the trigger. She couldn't imagine a vampire enjoyed getting shot.
"You surprised me."
Her grip tightened on the gun. She gulped down the worry lodged in the back of her throat.
"How's that?"
His shoulders briefly rose before falling.
"When I had told my progeny about you, he was convinced you would shoot me the moment you were armed."
The vampire turned to her, a smile balancing on his lips. "He will be pleased to learn he was correct."
"When you told who about me?" she demanded, aiming the weapon at his head.
He breathed in calmly, not appearing the slightest bit upset over the bullet in his shoulder.
"Eric," the vampire said. "He is my progeny and confidant."
"He gonna make an appearance here too?"
"I've advised against it, but Eric is not known for his patience." The vampire worked on keeping his expression neutral, gaze entangled with her own. "He will keep away out of respect for me."
"Why are you here?"
She decided to be blunt about it. In the time he took to speak, her eyes had been doing a minute-by-minute analysis.
The vampire was smart. She didn't need to listen to him speak long, flowery sentences. It was in the way he strung his sentences together. She'd never been ashamed of her southern Kentucky accent, but it was difficult not to feel inadequate around him. He spoke with confidence and composure. All with a bullet in his shoulder!
She also came to the uneasy conclusion that he knew her somehow. Why else would she be a topic of conversation between vampires?
"I fear I can no longer afford to hold off an introduction. It is important to me that you are aware of my existence."
Francine's insides twisted. Thus far, the vampire had not given her a reason to kill him, other than his nature. Now, she almost prayed he did. The direction of this conversation didn't sit well with her.
Laurie said they're all killers.
"My name is Godric," he said. "And you are Francine Moxley."
"Why'd you even bother askin' my name then?"
Godric's smile was brief. His eyes, previously attached to her face, fell to the floor.
"I hoped it would put you at ease."
"Yeah, bloodthirsty serial killers always put me at ease."
"Is that how you view me?"
"Your kind's never given me a reason to think differently."
She expected hostility or a defensive remark, but Godric merely nodded.
"No," he agreed, "we have not. I accept this."
"Whether you accept it or not don't make it any less true."
Godric stepped forward. She didn't miss the way he watched her. Trouble was- she couldn't place the look on his face. Although his expression remained unbothered, she got the feeling he was analyzing her just as hard as she was analyzing him.
"I passed you on the street a month and a half ago. You were distracted."
Without meaning to, she tensed up.
He's been huntin' me.
Before she could pull back her finger, he held up a hand.
"Please, hear this and afterward, you may make your judgment."
"Yeah, okay," Francine mocked, rolling her eyes. "Like you ain't gonna kill me the moment-."
"-I have had numerous chances to kill you," Godric interrupted, tone sterner than she'd ever heard it. "That I have continuously showed you mercy...is that not a reflection of my character?"
Surprising herself, Francine bit down on her tongue. Usually, she'd respond with the first insult that entered her head. And boy howdy, there was definitely a part of her that wanted to insult him. A bigger part, however, gravitated toward his last remark.
She mulled it over for a moment.
"That-." Francine paused, clearing her throat. "That you have to practice mercy unto others...that mercy doesn't come naturally to ya...that's a reflection of your character."
She had never witnessed someone's expression crumble so quickly. He recovered, of course. There was a tame, domestic expression he always seemed to come back to, as if to calm down and regroup.
I force him to keep composure. There is no way he's lettin' me leave this basement alive.
"You were listening to music with your head down."
If she thought about it hard enough, Francine could almost recall the evening he was referring to.
"I didn't do anythin' special to warrant you to hunt me."
"I am not here to hunt you." Now, he sounded mildly frustrated.
Despite the danger of baiting a vampire, Francine quite liked the fact that she could get under the skin of this ancient bloodsucker.
"Your shoulder brushed mine."
His eyes lingered on hers.
"So, what? You want an apology? Sorry for runnin' into ya! I get antisocial when I put my headphones in."
"You honestly believe I sought you out in search of an apology?"
Shrugging, Francine frowned. "Why the heck else would you be here?"
Godric closed his eyes and lowered his head. A long, drawn out breath entered and exited his chest.
"I ain't got all night, mister."
She didn't have to make that comment, and in retrospect, it wasn't the smartest timing. But, there was something about prodding the boundary of this vampire's self control...Francine found it fascinating. Not the bloodsucker himself, but rather, how violently he fought his nature.
It was impossible, of course. No vampire could resist feeding or killing. This vampire may come equipped with some manners, but she doubted they stuck around when he got hungry.
It's only a matter of time before he turns on me.
The weight of the gun grew heavier in her hands.
I could do it while he's talkin'. Doubt he'd expect it.
"Would you believe me if I told you I have no desire to harm you?"
Francine cocked her head to the side. "Nop-e." She made sure to draw out the word.
Godric held back a grimace.
"Now," she continued, readjusting her stance, "you got ten seconds to tell me why the hell you tracked me down."
"Just ten?" he asked, unable to fully mask his annoyance. "Why not eleven? I am sure the extra second will help you-."
Another shot rang out, much more intentional than the last.
The bullet struck Godric in the lower part of his stomach. Other than a curious glance down, the vampire didn't react.
Nevertheless, Francine felt a lot better.
"Why are you here?" she repeated.
Godric ignored her. The tips of his fingers circled the entry wound. They came away soaked with crimson.
"Why are you here, Miss Moxley?"
He asked this softly, refusing her eye contact.
She almost felt jealous of the attention his wound was receiving. Almost.
"I'm keepin' the people upstairs safe from you."
"It is not their safety you should be most concerned about."
Her instinct screamed PULL THE TRIGGERbut the commanding look Godric shot her nearly weakened her knees.
"Help me understand," he said, "what's turned you into such a spiteful individual. Your hate...it does not come to you naturally."
"S'pose you know all about human emotions, being a vampire and all. Oh wait, you don't know jack squat."
"I know you better than you know yourself."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
Godric's bloodied hand rose. It hovered above the bridge of his nose before falling down to his side.
"I did not expect speaking to you would be such an exercise in patience."
She couldn't tell whether he was frustrated or amused.
"Well, you're annoying me." She jerked back the trigger, sending another bullet into the vampire's body. Lower abdomen, just under his ribs. "And you won't die!"
"I am sorry my immortality is such an inconvenience for you."
"You tryin' to be funny?"
"You enjoy trying my patience. It reminds me of an unruly child."
"Screw you!"
The next bullet buried itself centimeters from his heart.
Godric peered down, head tilted to the side.
"You have a very precise aim and you are comfortable holding a gun. Why not kill me, like you intended to coming down here?"
Scoffing, Francine shook her head. "You don't know anythin'."
"I am two thous-."
"I don't care!" she interrupted, lowering the gun to her side. "How long you been alive don't equate to bein' smarter."
"No," Godric agreed, stepping forward. "But I would like to think time has allowed me to be more perceptive. You walked down here tonight with the intention of killing me, yes?"
She swallowed, throat suddenly dry. He was right, but she didn't know why admitting to it suddenly felt so uncomfortable.
"I seek to understand why."
"I hate you."
When Godric lowered his head this time around, she got the impression it was to hide his reaction.
Am I really feelin' bad for insultin' this bloodsucker?
"Were it purely hate against my kind, you would not have missed."
Her eyes scanned over the bullet wounds littering his torso.
He was right. Those shots had been fired because he annoyed her, not because she was scared. Not because he tried to harm her. And certainly not because she wanted him dead.
In her heart, she knew she wasn't going to shoot to kill unless he provoked that response out of her. And the only way for him to do that would be to try and harm her.
"It was a request from your first cousin."
She froze. Panic rushed through her veins at a nauseating speed, but she swallowed it back.
Sensing her unease, Godric sighed. "I have no plans to do her harm."
"Why mention her then?"
"Did she ask you to kill me?"
"I don't know." She followed this up with a careless shrug.
"Why do you insist on being so difficult?"
"Why the heck would I make this easy for ya?"
She expected another grimace or broody frown, but Godric perplexed her by smiling.
"You would get along with my progeny well."
"Probably wouldn't."
Godric released a deep sigh. "Until next time, Miss Moxley."
He turned around and without another word, strolled toward a corner of darkness.
"Hey!" she hollered. "I ain't done talkin'!"
Apparently, the vampire was. He allowed the shadows to consume him.
"You're an asshole!" she shouted.
Lord, please forgive me for cursin'. This darned vampire just makes me so mad.
Not scared. Not worried for her life. Not threatened. Just mad.
"I'm the nicest guard in this church, by the way," she added, face growing red. "You're gonna miss me."
She didn't know what prompted her to say that. Something about this vampire made her want to have the last word.
The basement was quiet, her echo long since engulfed.
Grumbling under her breath, Francine spun around and trudged toward the stairs.
"If you do not come visit me," he voiced, "I will come to you."
Francine lingered at the bottom of the steps. She inclined her head in his direction.
"Threatenin' me? That's not real smart of ya."
"A promise," he responded. "This is a promise, Miss Moxley. I have endangered my very existence to be this close to you."
"Why?"
It slipped out before she could reel it in. Her heart pounded, unsure what sort of answer she was anticipating.
"Next time," was his only response.
Gritting her teeth, Francine straightened her posture.
"Whatever."
She stomped up the stairs, frustrated and confused. Mostly frustrated.
Fat chance I'm ever goin' down there again.
Somehow, she didn't believe herself. And that only frustrated her more.