A/N: Whoooooo-weee. Long time no see! I apologize. This update is sooo late! But school and stuff is eating me alive. Haha. So anyway, here it is! It's a lot longer to make up for the wait. And guess what? I'm already working on chapter three! Isn't that great? AND I'd like to thank to all you readers and especially reviewers! It makes me a little happy on the inside that someone out there is reading this thing.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own True Blood.
Have fun!
"Godric, what are we doing here?" Eric was irritated. Several hours had already passed since sun down and he was itching to feed on a human. They surrounded him, but he could do nothing. Adding on to his irritation was the fact that this was a human masquerade ball that Godric had been invited to – Eric was only a companion for his maker. The clothes he forced himself into restricted him from moving with the vampiric fluidity he was so accustomed to.
"Now, Eric." It unnerved Eric that his maker was so calm when surrounded by all these humans – all these potential meals. "King Henry kindly invited us to this 'masquerade', or so they call it, we should at least respect his request."
Eric growled in frustration. The incessant chattering around him did not interest him in the slightest. Instead it got under his skin. 'King Henry' was actually King Henry VIII of England and it was he who invited the pair to his atrocious gathering. The air was sweltering and the pungent aroma of body sweat pricked at Eric's nose – although, his heightened sense of smell should surely be the blame. The clothes he wore felt heavy and the mask on his face annoyed him no less. He clenched and unclenched his hands, checking to see if they could still function.
He was sure that the point of a masquerade was to be some sort of mysterious being – especially towards the opposite sex. After all, what was the point of the masks, if not to obscure one's face? His eyes traveled around the room until his gaze landed on the king. The king obviously did not pay attention to 'masquerade etiquette' as he was dressed none too inconspicuously in gold. Everything about him was gold – his hair, his clothes, his mask, and his rings. Everything was gold and Henry was the most eloquently dressed man in the room. Eric knew that he just called attention to himself. However, he did think that Henry's height did that well on its own – he towered over his fellow Englishmen.
The blonde vampire looked at his attire and thought it was not too shabby. Frankly, he thought that everyone else seemed to agree with him. Apart from the King, Eric and Godric were easily under the spotlight as well. He guessed that it might be from their 'eluding vampire charm'. This irritated Eric even more however, considering so many women crowded around him from time to time. Eric was just nearly about to lose his composure and suck one of them dry right then and there if not for Godric's hand restraining him ever so often.
Keeping his eyes on the king, he noticed that women practically swarmed around the man. He was having a hard time figuring out which of them was actually the Queen. He guessed that she might be the silent, unmoving woman sitting on a throne that was lowered slightly beside the King. Then again, what did he know of the English and their royalty? He had heard whispers of this King – market gossip. Henry was a man of rash actions, many women, and favored conflict. Everything always went the King's way apparently – especially women.
"Who is that?" Eric turned his head when Godric started to talk to the human on his left. The dark haired vampire tilted his chin to the right and Eric's eyes landed on the table in front of them.
"The one in the blue?" Godric nodded and the English man's mouth tipped into a small smile. "That is the King's newest favorite, Lady Camilla."
The Viking searched for women in blue and his gaze caught on a human girl in a light blue gown. Eric's eyebrow lifted up, minutely. She should not have stuck out so much – considering the fact that subtlety was the soul purpose of a masquerade – but she did.
She was the only human woman wearing that shade of blue. Her dress was laced with strings of gold and pearls and sapphires lined her dress. Her mask was white and blue with precious jewels adorning it. She clearly was a favorite of the King.
"Lady Camilla is absolutely beautiful and that is one of the reasons why the King wants her. He gave her that dress, you know?" Eric was right. How sweet - a dress from the King. Godric inclined his head in interest towards the fair-haired man speaking to him. "But she has never given into the King. He enjoys the chase, but it seems she does not want any part of the King."
As if knowing they were talking about her, Lady Camilla gazed directly at Eric. He took notice of her icy blue eyes – a shade he had never encountered. She nodded, acknowledging him, but he did not return the gesture. She turned to the person beside her and continued chatting idly.
"So she has not been touched by the King?" Godric clasped his hands together, interlocking his fingers.
"It's not that she has not been touched, but she will not let him. Like I said, she wants nothing of him." The human took a gulp of ale and chewed on whatever he shoveled into his mouth. "Do not take it me from me, though. It's all just gossip I hear from the ladies in waiting."
Eric knew the look on his maker's face. He was interested; he wanted her. Godric was a careful vampire. Handpicking his victims based on beauty and – well – he wasn't quite sure what else Godric looked for in his humans. Eric knew whatever it was Godric looked for, there was no exception, the human had to have it.
"Dance! It is time for dancing!" King Henry stood from his seat and politely offered his hand to the woman Eric had assumed was the Queen. The rest of the court watched as the Queen hesitated a moment before smiling brilliantly and daintily placed her hand in the King's.
Politely, the rest of the court watched as the King and Queen waltzed around in circles. "It is quite fascinating that the Queen is far older than the King." Eric nodded at Godric's statement. The Queen had a youthful glow to her that was not previously present – she was radiant. Slowly, other couples joined the royal duo in the waltz and Eric uncharacteristically wondered about Lady Camilla. He questioned if she was dancing and when he looked up, he noticed that she was still seated and all alone.
As if sensing her loneliness, Godric stood up and walked toward her with smooth fluidity. Eric observed as his maker caught the woman's attention and held his hand out. She gently clasped Godric's hand and followed the dark haired vampire into the center of the dancing pairs.
They were an immaculate dancing pair and quickly caught the eye of the people. A majority of the couples shuffled to the side and back to their seats. The King also, surprisingly, courteously gave Godric and Camilla the spotlight and escorted the Queen back to their thrones. Eric watched as Godric and his partner danced perfectly to the music. He watched as his maker's lips moved, speaking to Camilla so low that not even he could hear the older vampire.
Eric kept watching as the girl threw her head back, laughing jovially. He nearly smiled. The image and sound of this girl laughing filled him with an odd and unfamiliar feeling – something akin to joy. He caught himself before his lips tilted into a smile – it was something he rarely let himself do. Eric was surprised; this feeling he had never happened before – at least not since he was turned. However, what surprised him even more was the look on his maker's face as he twirled the woman around the floor. Eric had never seen Godric so happy – truly happy. He noted as Godric's joy made it all the way to his eyes, sparkling in a way Eric had seen only once.
The King – not one for staying out of the limelight for too long – stood from his seat and walked to the pair who were now dancing to a slower piece.
"May I cut in?" Godric's eyes quickly flashed with a ferocious threat before smoothing away into a callous stare.
"Yes, your Majesty." Far too quick for the human eye, Eric saw an exchange of words between Camilla and the older vampire. He saw her longing for the vampire and dislike of the situation when her tiny left hand grasped Godric's right a little tighter. Godric swiftly bowed out, her hand sliding out from his, and Eric felt his maker's aura flash with an anger that screamed 'mine'. The King placed his left arm around the girl and grabbed her outstretched left hand. Godric placed himself beside Eric again, keeping his eyes on the dark haired woman as she danced with the King. She vaguely nodded at whatever the King was saying, but only had sights for Godric. "All in due time, your Majesty."
The night wore on and Eric was severely disgusted by some of the humans around him. They literally drowned themselves in alcohol and he even noticed some of them touching one another beneath the covers of the tables. Eric's nose scrunched in distaste. Several moments after the King had started dancing with Camilla, Henry had finally let go of her with the lame excuse of her 'tiring'. Godric was ecstatic, well as ecstatic as a vampire several centuries old could get. Eric let himself wallow in his loneliness as he kept an eye over Godric when he walked over to the woman in blue.
Instead of forcing himself into listening into their conversation, Eric looked around for probably the millionth time that evening. He was starved. Finally a woman came up to him, commenting on his outfit or some other.
"It is a little stifling in this room. Care to walk with me?" Eric put probably his sloppiest and laziest of glamours on the woman, who nodded dumbly in response. He felt a pair of eyes on him when he stood up, clutching the elbow of his unsuspecting victim. Godric gave him a warning look – a look that told him not to overdo it.
With a final acknowledgement of his maker, he walked out – woman in tow.