Chapter One:
"The human has been dispatched," Eric knelt beside his maker, eying him closely. "I've arranged an AB Negative donor. I doubt the fellowship had anything decent."
Godric smiled sadly at his progeny. "I am not hungry."
"You haven't eaten in days," Eric pointed out.
"I require very little blood."
"That does not mean you don't require blood at all," a frown spread across the Viking's lips. His bond to his maker was still closed, Godric refusing to allow his child to feel the guilt that weighed on his shoulders. It unnerved Eric to know that the vampire before him was no longer the same vampire that had turned him over a thousand years ago. Godric had once been the most ruthless vampire he had ever known. But the maker before him had changed since they had last parted paths.
And that frightened him.
"Godric, I…" he began, so many questions haunting him. Why hadn't he gone with him at the church? How had the brainless idiots manage to capture him, a two thousand year old vampire, in the first place?
"I'm afraid I cannot answer the questions you have," Godric's head tilted to the side as he gazed at Eric. He was beautiful; he always had been. He would miss his Viking's fierce beauty. "I do, however, have a request of you."
Eric's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Of course, father. Ask of me what you will."
Godric couldn't help but smile. Eric had always willing to please him, no matter the request. He had been a loyal progeny, a worthy partner of Death. "I wish for you to locate someone for me."
"Locate someone?" Eric questioned in confusion. "Who do you speak of?"
"It is a girl," Godric explained vaguely. "She is…an old friend."
"A human?" Eric snorted. "You detested humans once."
"I have evolved it seems," Godric sighed softly. "And she is as far from human as one could possibly be."
This intrigued Eric. Godric had never mentioned a girl in the past. He had never mentioned any old friends. Eric had travelled with him for a millennia and this was the first time this girl was spoken of. Who was she, and what did she mean to his maker?
"Who is she?"
"Someone very important."
"If she's so important, why is this the first time you've spoken of her?" Eric's eyes narrowed. A spark of jealous coursed through him. He had been his maker's only child, the only one he had chosen to spend an eternity with. Eric did not like the idea of there possibly being another. "Is she your child? Do I have a sister?"
Godric chuckled. "No, my son, you can ease your worry. You are my only child, my only chosen companion."
Eric's shoulders sagged in relief. "Who is she then?" He was happy to know that no other had entranced his maker in the way that he had, but he was still intrigued about this girl that he deemed important. "Is she one of us?"
"No, she is not a vampire."
Eyebrows furrowing together, Eric felt at a loss of words. "If she is not human, nor a vampire, then pray tell, what is she?"
"That is a story for another time," Godric shook his head. He wanted – needed – his child to set out and search for her. "Could you do this for me, my child? Could you search for her without another question being answered?"
Eric knew that he could, that he would. He would do anything his maker ever asked of him without a doubt. He had never had a reason to doubt the vampire that had given him a second life. But that did not cease the intrigue.
"Yes," Eric nodded. "I still wish to know, however."
"You always were full of questions," Godric remembered a simpler time when his child had only been a baby vampire. He had been so curious, so full of intrigue. Eric had wanted to know everything he could about his new life, about this new world. And Godric had fulfilled every whim, every question that could have formed. He would do anything for Eric. "Not here. Not now. I will answer whatever questions you might have, but later. Will that quench your thirst for answers for now?"
Eric agreed. He would go the entire night wondering about this mysterious girl. But soon, soon he would know everything he wished. He could wait until then.
"Then go," Godric nodded into the next room. "I believe the Stackhouse girl has captured your attention."
A smirk slid across Eric's lips at the mention of the telepath. "She has proven to be very useful."
"There is a spark about her. She is not entirely human," Godric mused. He had known it the moment he had ripped Gabe off of her body.
"No, she most certainly is not just human," Eric's smirk only seemed to widen.
"You always did enjoy a good mystery."
"Not all the time," Eric stood, laying a hand on his maker's shoulder. "Later?"
"Of course, my son," Godric assured, offering a reassuring smile. "I do warn you, though. I doubt you will believe my tale."
That only managed to intrigue the Viking more. "We'll see."
Eric impatiently waited as guests began to leave as dawn approached. He paced each room, glaring at those that dared to remain behind for a moment longer than the others. He wanted to be alone with his maker for the first time in seventy years. He wanted answers. The moment the last guest exited the nest, Eric was before his maker in his study once more.
"You are impatient," Godric shook his head but laughed lightly as he rose, motioning for Eric to do the same. "Rise, my son. We have been equals since the moment I created you."
Eric rose but kept his head bowed in respect as he followed Godric from the room.
"Let us be comfortable. I fear this is a long tale I must tell you."
"Who is she?" Eric couldn't help but question immediately as they settled on a long white couch. "Why is she so important? What is she?"
Godric raised a hand to cease his questions. "I know you have questions, Eric. But there is a story that must be told first," A look of frustration on his child's face caused the ancient to laugh. "What will satisfy your questions? You may only ask one before you must wait."
Eric frowned as he thought. He wanted to know her name, to know who exactly she was. But he was intrigued as to what she was. She was neither a human nor a vampire. Could she have been a witch? No, witches and vampires had detested one another for millennia. He doubted his maker would care for one like he did for this girl. Then what could she be?
"What is she, Godric?" Eric wondered curiously, leaning forward as he watching Godric closely. "She is not human or vampire. What exactly is she then?"
Godric sighed as he closed his eyes, a small smile spreading across his lips. "She is the oldest, one of the most powerful beings you will ever have the pleasure of meeting."
"That is not an answer."
"You will not believe me."
"Try me," Eric goaded. "Tell me. What is she? What is this mysterious girl that has you so enthralled?"
"Are you certain you wish to know this before you even know her name?"
"Yes," Eric replied with certainty. He was obsessed with the want to know what she was. It was all he cared about. A name would do nothing but bore him.
Godric's orbs opened as he took in his curious child. His smile widened at his wonderment. He had not seen Eric in such a way for nearly a thousand years. It was amusing to him. "She is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes upon. She is both love and war, beauty and destruction. Her story is truly tragic, however; doomed to spend an eternity alone."
Eric was growing impatient. "I do not wish for a poem, Godric. What is she?"
Godric couldn't help but laugh. "My son, you truly have no idea."
"Godric…"
"She, my eternal child, is the only Goddess to ever roam this earth."
Eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"I assume you know the stories of the Olympians."
"Stories, yes," Eric's head tilted to the side. "But that is all they are. Stories."
"Are you certain of that?"
Eric leaned back, a frown settling across his lips as he watched his maker closely. "Are you trying to tell me they are not simply stories?"
"That is exactly what I'm saying."
Eric was speechless for the first time in his entire existence. He had lived in a time when the gods of Odin and Thor were prayed to and adored. But they had simply been stories, bed time tales parents would tell their children, warning them of Loki's mischief should they misbehave. They had never been, however, thought of to be real. It was impossible.
"Impossible," Eric shook his head in disbelief.
"Are we not impossible, my son?" Godric pointed out. "We should not be possible, and yet we are. There are many secrets of this universe, my child, secrets that have been kept hidden for thousands of years."
"You are telling me this girl, she is an Olympian?" Eric's eyebrows furrowed. "She is a god?"
Godric smiled in amusement. "She would be furious at being called a God."
"If the stories are true, then how does she roam this earth?"
"That is a part of the tale I must tell you. Are you ready for me to begin?" Godric asked.
Eric wasn't. he wanted his questions answered. He wanted to know how it was possible that these Gods were more than just a fairytale. He wanted to know why one was wandering amongst them. He wanted to know how she had befriended his maker.
But a glance at his maker ceased any further questions. He saw the desperation on Godric's face, the need to tell this story, for Eric to seek out this mysterious Goddess. If it pleased his father, Eric would go to the end of the world for him. He could certainly force his patience.
"Allow me to begin…"
A/N: So I've had this chapter ready to go for quite a while, but never found the right time. Well with a fic just finished, I couldn't stop myself from wanting to post this. Okay, so I have too many fics happening. But this idea has been stewing for way too long (and I find myself with quite a bit of time on my hands), so don't hate me. I'll be updating the others shortly, and the sequel to Until the Last Heartbeat is always on my mind.
Just a fair warning, I will be taking liberties with Greek Mythology. I want to stay true, but of course, myths are myths, and are ever changing. If there is ever anything you find you would desire to see, or I have gotten so terribly wrong that you want to point it out (in a very nice and pleasant way), then by all means! I love Greek mythology, and want to give it some justice while also taking an artistic license with it. So please enjoy!