Greeting the Dawn

Chapter 2

A/N

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for the reviews! Ya'll definitely are the reason why I decided to continue the story. Currently, I'm looking for a beta, so there is a good chance that I might make revisions to this and the previous chapter. [I've now found a rockin' beta, KJmom!]

Please let me know what you think about the story, even if it's to let me know you don't like something! Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoy it!

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Sookie's Point of View

I don't know what happened on that roof. Oh, believe me, I was there and all when the sun rose over the horizon and Godric burst into flames. But that's not what actually happened.

I don't think I've ever been as attuned to sunlight as I was in that moment. It was as though I could feel its warmth and weight like a tangible presence, lapping at the heels of my white flats before slithering up the backs of my legs and absorbing into the cotton of my dress.

I wrapped my arms around Godric in a fervent attempt to cover of much as his skin as possible. I wouldn't let him die. He couldn't!

The leather of his shoes was already smoking, and although his legs were encased in linen pants, I knew they wouldn't protect him for long. His history, those ancient tattoos, would no more protect him than sun block. Godric's chest was still exposed to the elements and the sun was coming for him.

Godric had closed his eyes. And although his thumb was in his mouth, he didn't look childish. The expression on his face was, well, I don't know how to describe it other than hope and love and joy and peace all swirled about. And despite my growing need to protect him, I couldn't help but be in awe of him. That look, whatever it was, suited him.

I braced myself against his cool body and I shoved. Hard. I pushed from my knees and used what felt like every muscle in my body to move him closer to the safety of the stairway. But he didn't budge.

By now I could feel the sun was there, like a warm hand cradling the back of my neck. I flinched, and shook my head in denial, tears spilling down my cheeks.

I looked up at his face so I could have a chance to memorize it, describe it to Eric. His eyes opened and my eyes caught his warm green gaze.

He wasn't burning. Godric was standing in the morning sun and he wasn't burning. I ran my hands frantically over his exposed skin, which was soaking in the warmth of my body heat and the morning sun. Godric didn't even feel cool to the touch.

"What?" I croaked.

His eyes were alight with joy and disbelief; his smile was beatific. "I'm full."

Struck by his expression and the lack of flame, I didn't know what to do. All I knew was that if I lost him, I would lose some piece of myself, a part of me I never knew was missing.

"Godric," I practically yelled into his face, trying to focus his attention. "Listen to me. Now is not the time to talk about your lack of hunger. You have to get inside!"

He grabbed my right hand and clutched it to his smooth chest, right above where his heart would have beat. "Do you feel it?"

By this time, the sun had to have cleared the horizon. The concrete we were standing on was already beginning to bake. The heat that I normally basked in was an oppressive force.

Trembling, I cupped his cheek with my free hand. A spark passed from my skin to his and I knew I had finally reached him. "Please," I begged him, my voice cracking. "Don't die. Don't leave me."

Everything shifted. I jerked with surprise when I realized that we were no longer standing on the rooftop, but were located inside the staircase of Hotel Carmilla. Godric was safe.

My knees gave out beneath me and I sagged against the wall, the handrail digging into my back.

"Are you all right, Miss Stackhouse," Godric asked gently. Gone was the expression I so admired, and in its place was the inscrutable face of a vampire. If it weren't for the bloody red tear smudged halfway down his cheek, I would have never known him to have any emotions at all.

"Yes," I panted. "Just, give me a minute." I struggled to catch my breath. The cool breeze of the air conditioner raised goosebumps over my skin. I stared at him, blatantly. As though my gaze could hold him in place.

Godric stood in silence, as though he was hearing something, feeling something that I couldn't comprehend. The florescent lighting made his tattoos stand out starkly against the pale skin of his bare torso.

"What was that? What were you thinking," I asked angrily. How could he do that? How could he leave me? There was so much left. So much to live for.

He sighed patiently, a contradiction I didn't know could exist until now. "All you need to know right now is that it is over. I can't explain it to you right now, Miss Stackhouse." He tilted his head to the side, listening. "I have to go. Eric needs me."

I nodded jerkily, "Yes, of course. Go to him." Before I could blink again he was gone.

I don't know how long I stayed in the stairwell. But eventually I found my way out of the stairwell and to the elevator. I knew that I couldn't climb all the way down to Bill's and my room.

I stopped as I walked past Eric's room. I knew that both Godric and Eric were inside. I could feel them. Before I knew what I was doing, I rested my hand against the door and closed my eyes.

"Miss? Do you need something?"

I must've jumped at least a foot in the air when I heard the bellboy's voice. Embarrassed to be caught communing with the door, I flushed. "No. Um, thank you."

The brunette looked at me expectantly, and I dug in the pocket of my dress for my room key. I scurried across the hallway and jammed the key card into the door. I nodded at the bellboy over my shoulder and let myself in to my room.

Curious, I listened in on the man's thoughts as he stood outside in the hall. At least she is a guest here. It would've been awkward as hell to have to throw out another crazy fangbanger after all of the drama the last one caused.

I quickly tuned him out as he finally turned around and walked back to the elevators. I certainly did not want to hear about that kind of drama. And, hey! I am not a fangbanger! I mean, I am, but I'm not. I dismissed the thought for the moment and headed towards the bathroom.

I stripped out of my dress and underthings and turned on the hot water in the shower. I laid my dress out over the edge of the bathroom counter and set the bag of complementary soaps atop it, too lazy hang it in the closet.

And here I stand. The bathroom mirror is beyond fogged over, and all I can do is think about what happened, and what almost happened. Sighing, I reach to check the temperature of the water when something red against my skin catches my eye.

I bring my hand closer to my face and realize that it is Godric's tear. Oddly enough, it hasn't dried entirely, maybe due to the humidity of the bathroom and the sweat on my skin. Either way, it fascinates me because of what it represents. I know I should wipe it against my thigh or just let the water run its course and carry it down the drain. I move my hand to do just that.

This was almost all that was left of Godric. All that I would have as a tangible reminder that he ever existed. I can't let it disappear down the drain. I bring my palm to my mouth and hesitantly lick the blood off my skin.

At first, I don't taste anything besides the salt of my sweat. Then, it feels like I've been socked in the jaw, but not in an unpleasant way if that makes any sense. You know sometimes when you take a big sip of red wine, the kind that is really old and has a ton of flavor? At first you don't taste much, and then all the sudden you feel that taste in every bit of your mouth, from the back of your mouth where your molars meet your gums and your teeth grind, to the front, where that funny strip of skin above the inside of your lip meets the top of your gum.

If Eric's blood tastes like sex and chocolate and Bill's tastes like pecan pie, then Godric's tastes like caramel and granny smith apples. I lick my palm again, making sure to get every bit off my skin. I feel a jolt, and then a low hum. But it's not like the background noise of a lot of people talking because that's in my head. No, this is coming from somewhere in the middle of my chest and my head all at once.

The shower head spits out a burst of scalding hot water and a cloud of steam bursts upon my face. I shiver, realizing that I've been standing naked in the bathroom for God knows how long. I know that Bill is dead for the day, but I can't help but suddenly feel as though someone is going to walk in on me at any time.

I hop in the shower and wash myself from head to foot as fast as I can. I am suddenly eager to crawl under the covers and rest. I've never been through a day quite like this one, and I'm certainly in no mood to repeat it anytime soon. I jump out of the shower and hurriedly get ready for bed.

As I peel back the sheets and slide between them, I smile, feeling a bit naughty for not putting on a nightgown. I'm sure Bill won't mind. I prop myself up on one arm and look at him. At rest, he looks much younger than when he's up, even when he's with me just talking or making love, that small wrinkle between his eyes never truly disappears as it has now.

Lying back down I frown softly. Bill and I have a lot to discuss when he rises this evening. I can't take surprises like Lorena popping out of nowhere. I need to be able to trust him completely. I've told him so much about myself, and yet I know so little of him.

Unsettled, I roll over on my side facing away from him and turn off my lamp, casting the room into complete darkness.