Chapter Three:

The two vampires hadn't been afraid to raise their voices tonight. You could hear them fighting from the other side of the large house. Isabel sat in the kitchen that was really only used by me and to store the synthetic blood while I stood by the doorway, gazing out into the hallway leading back to where the two were arguing. I could hear parts of their conversation, and there was no doubt that the argument was because of me. Why, I had no idea, and even as I looked to Isabel for answers, she would just look away and appear busy. Soon Hugo, her human lover, came and the two were swept away to do more...well things I just didn't want to think about. I was left alone to my own thoughts as I paced around the kitchen.

Part of me wanted to go up to the door of the den and listen in more closely, to understand why I was suddenly the topic of the night. But I was afraid of what would happen if they found me spying. Godric hadn't once said a word the other week when he found me trying to listen in from the stairs. Probably because I hadn't heard a word. However this time, I wasn't so sure I would just get away with it. I just couldn't stop my ever growing desire to want to know what was going on, however. Why were they even arguing over me? What did I have to do with anything?

I decided, against my better judgement, to at least try and listen in on the conversation. I would just pretend to be passing by to go back upstairs if anyone caught me. They were yelling loud enough that I could probably get away with the excuse. Inhaling sharply, I left the kitchen and walked back down the hallway, growing closer to the closed room. I bit my bottom lip as I stared at the door, the voices now crystal clear.

"I don't want to watch over some useless human!"

"I'm asking this as your maker, Eric." Godric's usually calm voice held agitation.

"What is it about her, Godric? What has you so captivated by her? She smells disgusting to me. I will not have her in my presence!"

I frowned and raised an arm to smell myself. I thought I smelt rather nice, using the shampoo and soaps Isabel had given me as a birthday present last month.

"I ask kindly of you not to insult the innocent girl."

"I'll talk about her in any way that I would like! I will not watch over her!"

My original excitement to see the blonde vampire again was now replaced with raw anger. I mean really, what was his problem? Just because I was human, it didn't mean I was horrible. I didn't hate vampires; if I did I wouldn't be living here! I actually would much rather be in the presence of vampires than my own human race. So I just could not understand the vampire's immediate hate towards me. He didn't even know me. How could he judge me so quickly? And what did they even mean, watch over me? Why did I need watching over? I was 22, I didn't need a babysitter.

"Your blind hate towards humans is a reason why they fear us. We've shed blood for centuries. I can understand why they view us as monsters."

"They try to kill us, Godric. They would love nothing else than to wipe our entire species out!"

"If our kind could only understand why they feel that way..."

"I don't wish to understand humans, Godric. We're superior. We've lived centuries longer than the oldest human. I refuse to lower myself to their level."

"And this is why there are groups that are against us, Eric. We need to reach out to the humans, to show them that we are not as evil as they believe us to be."

"Except we are! We are evil! We kill, we drink their blood. Why can you not accept that?" Eric's voice boomed.

I didn't even need to be right outside of the room to be able to hear them now. They had caught the attention of the others in the house, Stan and a few other vampires now littering the foyer to listen in on the private conversation. I glanced behind me and saw Isabel on the stairs, Hugo's arm wrapped around her as they watched the door with interest. I was glad I was not the only one who was intrigued by the argument. At least now I wouldn't be pegged as an eavesdropper with everyone here.

"I will not discuss this anymore."

"Eric, I ask you to watch over her. Please, do this for me."

"No. I'm not going to spend more time than I have to around a disgusting human. Have one of your other minions do your bidding."

There were footsteps coming towards the door, and if I hadn't jumped back, I would have been ploughed down by the angry blonde vampire that left the den in a hurry. I stumbled over my own two feet backwards, but was caught by none other than Godric before I could hit the ground. I couldn't meet him in the eye, feeling guilty that I had just been listening to a conversation no one else was supposed to hear. The other vampires eventually drifted off, seeing that the show was now over. Stan sneered at us before leaving the house after Eric. Isabel and Hugo hurried back upstairs to enjoy the rest of the evening, leaving just Godric and I downstairs.

"I'm sorry." I snuck a glance at him, worried that he would be angry.

"For what, Elizabeth?" he questioned.

"For ah..." I waved at the door. "For hearing what you two were saying."

"I suspect everyone heard, not just you, my child." He patted my arm.

"Could I...I was just..." I trailed off, not sure how to word the question that was on my mind.

"You want to know what this has to do with you." He spoke as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I nodded sheepishly. I had never gotten involved with Godric and his business. Even when I was intrigued, I would always keep myself at a distance from the work of a vampire. It was easier for everyone involved if I did so. But as this was somehow involving me, I couldn't help myself from wanting to know what it was all about, even if I had no place to find out. If it had something to do with me, I did have a small right to know what was going on, didn't I?

"I believe you and I should have a chat, Elizabeth."

"You don't have to tell me Godric. I know I've overstepped a boundary. I'm sorry." I looked down, the guilt rising.

"You have done nothing wrong, Elizabeth. You would have found out at any rate. I feel foolish for believing you cannot handle what I have to discuss with you. You are a strong girl."

"I'm not that strong." I shook my head, remembering all too clearly the reason I had even come to live here.

"You are incredibly strong." He laid his hands on my shoulder. "Do not think less of yourself, Elizabeth. You are a fascinating human. You make me feel more alive than I ever have in my 2000 years of living. I thank you for that. You remind me of my humanity."

I stared into those warm eyes of his, and couldn't help but feel comforted. This was the exact reason I hadn't been afraid of Godric when I first woke up after the attack and found out he was a vampire. There was nothing evil about him. Maybe he had been an evil bloodsucker in the past, but he was far from it now. He comforted me when I needed someone the most. He had swept in and saved me from what I could only assume to have been death. I owed my life to this vampire. He may not have a beating heart, but that didn't mean he didn't have one, and the night that he saved me, that was apparent.

"I still remember when you first found out what I was." A smile fell over his lips.

I chuckled. "I asked to see your fangs."

"You weren't scared at all. I still find myself surprised by that."

"You're not all that scary Godric. Not to me at least." I shrugged, smiling at him.

"I used to be. But that is in the past." He laid a hand on my back as he began leading me into the living room. "Let us only live in the present. That is where our lives truly mean something."

"You look far too young to have so much wisdom."

"Appearances are deceiving, child."

Yeah, like a gorgeous tall blonde vampire turning out to be a jerk. Appearances really were deceiving. Now if only Eric Northman didn't have to look so god damn good looking. Then I would be so caught up in why he disliked me so much. Even now, as Godric sat me down on the couch before sitting in a nearby chair, I wondered if Eric would come back after he cooled down. I just couldn't get the vampire out of my head. I wanted to slap myself for it. He had been rude and an asshole and he hadn't even spoken a word to me! Why should I give him a single thought. But my thoughts betrayed me. My damn hormones. I really needed to get out of this house more often.

"So because you're going away for a bit, you don't want me to stay here?" I tried to make sense of everything Godric was telling me.

"I do not feel that you will be safe here without my presence. I fear something could happen to you while I am gone." Godric explained.

"But what about Isabel? She wouldn't let anything happen."

"Isabel will be coming with me for the first half of the trip. There is business we need to attend to elsewhere. So you can understand why I am hesitant to leave you here with..."

"With Stan." I frowned, knowing where he was going. "He wouldn't hesitate to do something the moment your gone."

"That is what I fear." Godric nodded, sitting down beside me on the couch and taking my hands in his. "I do not want you to be harmed. I promised you six months ago that I would protect you."

"So that's why you want Eric to watch over me?"

"That is what I was hoping for, yes."

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow. "He seems like an asshole to me."

"You have to understand, Elizabeth, that he was created in a time when vampires were one of the most feared creatures to walk this earth. I turned him when I myself was in my most darkened days. I did not teach him as well as I should have. You cannot blame his blind hate towards humans on him; it is all that he knows."

"You changed though. You've said countless of times that you used to despise humans, and now you have one living in your home. Something had to of changed in you. He shouldn't be so...so..."

"So much like the humans are to us?" he smiled sadly. "There is too much hate in the world. I wish we could all live in existence together. That was a wish of ours when we first came out into the public. Unfortunately it's only brought more hate and fear towards us. I hope one day that we can live side by side with one another, harbouring no ill feelings."

"Do you really think that could ever happen?"

"It happened with us, has it not?" He pointed out.

"Yeah, but I never hated vampires." I shrugged. "I never saw anything wrong with any of you trying to live out in the open. I always thought it made you even braver, to not hide what you were anymore. It takes a truly brave person to not be afraid to show who they really are."

"You are much wiser than you give yourself credit for, Elizabeth." He leaned over, laying a kiss to my forehead. "There are the rare humans, like you, that make my hope grow stronger. But for now, this is the way we have to live, hating one another. That is what Eric is accustomed to."

I sighed. "Well then what makes you think he's going to agree to watch over me? He's already stomped out of here once tonight."

"He will come back." He patted my hands. "I have faith in my child. He has a temper, much like I did when I was his age."

I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

"What is it?"

"It's just funny to hear you speak like that. You look like your barely even eighteen and yet your older than...well everything." my cheeks flushed a bright pink. "Sorry, that was a bit rude."

"Not at all. My appearance does hinder my words, does it not?" his smile widened.

"Could I...could I ask you something personal?" I bit my lip, not sure how he would react to my question.

"You know you are always free to ask whatever it is you would like. I do not judge nor turn away from any question."

"Well," I pushed a stray piece of hair back behind my ear. "I was just wondering...how old were you when you were changed?"

"I was barely the age of sixteen."

"Wow." My mouth gaped open. "So young."

"Yes, I had my whole life still ahead of me. But I do not regret my choice. I was nearly dead when my maker found me and gave me my new life. I feel thankful that I had a second chance, even it is one that has lasted 2000 years."

"I can't even imagine." I leaned back on the couch. "I thought 21 was too young to die when I got attacked. But 16...wow. Do you remember it at all, being alive I mean?"

"Very little. I remember my little brother. But that is it. I've been alive for so long that my memories are long gone."

"Did it...did it hurt?"

"Did what hurt, child?"

I felt embarrassed for even asking. "Did it hurt when you changed?"

A faraway look crossed his face as he stared behind me at the wall. "The amusing thing is, I don't even recall if it did."

"I'm sorry for asking." I looked down.

"Don't be sorry, Elizabeth. It is only natural for you to be curious. May I ask you a question about yourself?"

"It's only fair." I nodded, looking back up at him.

"You don't speak about your family. Are they not worried where you have been for the past six months?"

I knew he would question me about my family sooner or later. It was odd of course, for there to be no contact between my family and I, and I was surprised it took this long for him to ask.

"My parents both died when I was only five. I don't remember them too much, just little things." I could feel tears well in my eyes. I felt robbed that I never had a chance to know my parents. I would never have those cherished moments that every child was supposed to have. I was forced to grow up years before I should have, all because of a drunk driver.

"How did they die?"

"We were driving home from visiting my older brother, he was away at college, and we were hit by a drunk driver. My father was killed instantly. My mother had managed to live to make it to the hospital, but she died there a few hours later, or so my brother told me. I was the only one to survive, with surprisingly hardly a scratch on my body."

"A miracle." He raised a hand up and wiped away a tear I hadn't noticed slipped down my cheek.

"Sometimes I don't think so. There were a lot of times while growing up that I wished I had died with them." I admitted.

"Well I am happy that you did not." An arm wound its way around my shoulders in a comforting manner. "Who raised you?"

"My brother. My grandparents had died long before I was born, and both my parents were only children. He left college to take care of me in our family home. I always felt guilty; making him put his life on hold to take care of me. That's how we moved to Dallas. When I was ten, I was able to convince my brother to go back to school. He got a scholarship and we moved here. It was hard, but we managed."

"You love your brother very much." Godric mused.

"I do...I did..." I felt my voice crack.

"He passed away, didn't he?"

"When I was a freshman in college. He just got sick one day and died a few weeks later. I never went back to school after that. Not having the money. I got a job at the bookstore, and managed to survive off of the small salary. And now I'm here."

"You've had a hard life."

"I try not to look at it like that." I shook my head. "My brother always made sure I had everything I needed. There were a lot of sacrifices made while growing up, for the both of us. But it could have been much worse. I'm thankful I had my brother. I've heard of the horror stories of going through the foster system and orphanages. I couldn't imagine not having my brother there."

"I may not believe in many things, but I do believe in god." His hand brushed away another set of tears. "Ironic, I know. But I do believe that his choices are made for a reason. We live, and we die. Even as vampires, we follow the same path. We each are born and die, just in a much different way."

"I hated god my entire life." My cheeks grew pink. "I always blamed him for taking everyone away from me. But I guess I don't anymore."

"And why is that, child?"

"He sent me you." I gave him a smile. "Vampire or not, you were my angel that night. I prayed to god the entire time, the first time I had ever done so. I thought he would smite me for the hate I held towards him, but then there you were. You still are my angel. You've gotten me through so much. You remind me of my brother to be honest. Always my rock."

"I feel privileged that I was the one to find you that night."

"Well isn't this just heart warming."

I gritted my teeth as Godric looked over the couch towards the doorway to the room. I snuck a glance over my shoulder and glared at the blonde vampire as he leaned against the doorway. I was surprised Godric hadn't heard Eric return to the house. Or else he had, and wanted him to hear everything.

"I'm glad you've returned." Godric stood. "Perhaps we should all sit and talk."

"I've only returned because dawn is near." Eric crossed his arms over his leather jacket, his glaring eyes never leaving me.

I shifted uncomfortably as I gazed down at my lap. I had never had someone hate me as much as Eric did. And for absolutely no other reason than because I was human. He was exactly like all of those vampire haters. Blind hate would get us nowhere in the world. We were only taking steps back with all of this hate towards one another.

"I'll have someone show you to your accommodations." Godric nodded. "But we will continue this conversation tomorrow night, my child."

I could hear the authority in his voice and knew that Eric wouldn't be able to get out of it. Godric was not only Sheriff of this area, making his orders final, but he was also Eric's maker and still clearly held some power over the slightly younger vampire.

"As you wish." Eric spoke, his eyes still boring into me.

"I-I'm going to go up to bed." I stumbled up to my feet, not wanting to be in the same room as the blonde vampire any longer.

"Goodnight Elizabeth." Godric pulled me into an embrace. I could see Eric's eyes narrow as I peeked at the vampire, and felt the nerves grow in my body. I was glad Godric wouldn't let any harm come to me, as at that very moment, Eric looked like he wanted to kill something, or rather, someone.

And that someone was me.