Chapter 1
Before I even reached the roof, I could hear Eric telling Godric that his decision to meet the sun was total insanity. I could tell Eric was distraught as he was trying to convince Godric to live in such a supplicatory way that I could hear the small cracks in his voice that gave way to his anguish. As I reached the roof I saw Eric on his knees speaking to Godric in a language that I did not understand, but really had no need to as Eric's bloody tears told me everything I needed to know. "Let me go." Godric said to Eric as he gently placed his hand on Eric's head. It was evident that the love these two shared for one another was far deeper than anything that I had ever experienced. It was right then and there that I decided that if Godric met the sun, Eric would forever be changed. Whatever semblance of humanity he had left would be there no longer. Instinctively I decided that I had to do something, for Eric's sake. Why I cared so much about Eric was beyond me, after all he tricked me into drinking his blood, taunting me with innuendo in front of Bill just to get under his skin. Why did I feel this compulsion to help Eric? Something to think about later I suppose. As Eric solemnly approached me, bloody tears in his eyes, I took his cold trembling hand in mine. "I'll stay with him for as long as it takes." He nodded to me in reverent appreciation for me for not allowing his maker to die alone.
"It won't take long, not at my age." Godric professed. "Tell me Godric, why do you choose death?, You have so much to live for." Both a question and a statement that I had no expectation that he would actually answer. "Do you love him…Eric?" Godric countered. "No." I state honestly. "I feel oddly drawn to and protective of him." Not knowing why I am admitting something like that to Godric, something I was not ready to admit even to myself. "Miss Stackhouse, Do you love Bill?" Godric asked. I wonder why he is so interested in my love interests. Perhaps his decision to meet the sun is based on a love that he had lost or perhaps never found. "Yes, I do love Bill." I said not even convincing to myself. "Do you love Eric?" I counter, more so to direct this uncomfortable line of questioning towards Godric. "He is my proudest accomplishment. Love is not a strong enough word to describe the feelings I have for Eric." Godric says with bloody tears streaming down his forlorn face. "He needs you. He will never be the same after today, you know that right? He will become hardened and no one will ever see the light in him ever again. Is that what you want from him?" I stated with utter concern in my voice. "I fear you may be right about that Miss Stackhouse, but what choice do I have. I have lived over 2000 years and although the love I have for Eric has kept me going, I don't feel like it is enough any longer. I've waited to find my mate, but it is not meant to be. If I cannot find the one who is to love me, then I wish to find peace in the afterlife." Okay, so I was right, this was all about love. "You cannot give up on life, love and your child." I stated firmly and benevolently. "Do you believe that she is out there for me?" Godric asked. "Yes, you have so much love to give, and if you open your heart, you will find your mate, of this I am certain." I paused looking into his blue grey eyes which appeared so hopeless and weary. I could tell that deep in his heart it was not his true desire to meet the sun, all he needed was to find love. "Will you come back inside with me? I fear that the sun will be rising in a few minutes." I asked hoping that, for Eric's sake, he would agree to come with me. Godric took my hand in his, stared deeply into my eyes, almost touching my very soul and said, "Miss Stackhouse, you have a very kind soul, I can tell that you are true in your belief that I will find my mate. I choose to believe you, it is not my time yet." Relief streamed across my face and I knew that I had spared Eric a lot of heart ache, although I am positive he would never ever admit that. I told Bill, that I had to do something for Godric, that I knew he was in pain. I just hope that he finds love, I would hate for him to think of me as a liar or worse yet, prolong his pain unnecessarily. As we started to make our way down the staircase, Godric turned to me and said, "Miss Stackhouse, for the record, I do not believe what you said." My heart dropped as my fear was confirmed, he did think of me as a liar. "I do not believe that you truly love Mr. Compton." That was not what I was expecting, but immediately I was put off and felt the need to defend my feelings for Bill. "Not to sound rude, but it's none of your concern, and for the record you are most definitely wrong." Still not even convincing myself. What is wrong with me? I love Bill. Right? Why was I questioning my feelings for Bill now? Deciding that this was something that I really needed to sit down and think about later. "Let's get you to Eric's suite, I am sure he is very distraught at the moment."
As we walked down the corridor to Eric's suite, I knock on the door, only to find that the door is ajar and opened right away. I walked into his suite to find him sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, his head buried into his hands. He looked up at me, bloody tears streaming down his porcelain cheeks. "What happened to Godric?, I did not feel physical pain when he passed." He looked confused, distraught, and angry. I placed my hands softly on the sides of his head, stroking my fingers through his beautiful blond locks. "Your maker lives, he is in the bathroom, cleaning up." As soon as I said the word lives, Eric did something that I never expected him to do. He pulled me to him and pressed his body to mine giving me the most worshipful hug that I have ever experienced. He looked deeply in my eyes, placed his left hand on my cheek and whispered in my ear. "You have my undying admiration." He gently placed a soft lingering kiss on my cheek. I could feel butterflies in my stomach. This is a side of Eric that I had never seen before and quite frankly I was blown away by my own emotional reaction to this new side of the Sheriff. He was a beautiful man, but seeing him so vulnerable and emotional made him seem all the more appealing to me. There was something about seeing his raw emotions flowing that touched me somewhere so deeply, that if I had to admit it to myself, I could love. I also knew that this man, this vampire had the ability to take everything from me. If I let him in, I would give him my heart, body, and soul and it would be up to him to decide to shatter my very existence or he chose to bask in the love that we could share. I could not allow my walls to lowered like that. That was a vulnerability that I was not willing allow of myself. I had to get out of his suite and go back to the bed that Bill and I shared. I needed to go back to what I felt comfortable with. To someone I knew didn't have that much power over my heart and soul. Bill. As I heard Godric enter the room, I knew that was my queue to leave. Eric gave me one last longing ephemeral look as I left his suite. Did he feel the same thing I felt? It didn't matter I was Bill's; I needed to go back and be with him.
