AN: Happy Reading! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 3
GPOV
I look over the gathered crowd, having to shift a bit uncomfortably in my throne at the fascinated attention my child and I are drawing from the enamored patrons. I suppose I see what he meant now, wondering what kind of crowd the two of us would draw to the small bar.
"Ignore them, Master," Eric's voice sounds smoothly in old Gaelic from my side as I turn to see his slight smirk. "They prefer when we remain aloof," he adds with a shrug as I nod my understanding. A grim expression then falls over his features before he hits me with a solemn gaze. "I was thinking," he starts hesitantly. "Vampires are responsible for our Pamela's death," he muses as I'm left nodding my agreement.
"I came to the same conclusion, my child, though the scents were very faint," I add as he nods his agreement. "They were unfamiliar, but if I were to come across them once more I know I would able to identify them," I assure him as he nods once more in agreement.
"I believe her death was a message or a warning of some kind…for me," he adds as I feel his rising guilt, a deep frown settling over his face. "She was left for dead, left for me to find in her injured state," he chokes out before he's clearing his throat loudly in an attempt to stifle his rising despair as I push serenity to him, thinking carefully over his assessment.
"I think you may be right in assuming such, my child," I begrudgingly agree, wishing this were not truly the case. I know my Eric will only blame himself and he already has more than enough to deal with without adding self-loathing into the equation.
"I have a great many enemies, though I never thought any would risk my fierce wrath in such a way," he muses aloud, desolation lacing his words as I reach over to place a comforting hand upon his thigh.
"We shall find those responsible, Eric, this I promise you," I solemnly swear, earning a small, yet grateful smile from him as he nods his agreement. He places his hand over my own, squeezing it gently before his gaze drifts back over the crowd and he seems to lose himself deep in thought for a time. He suddenly stiffens, straightening in his throne and I follow his gaze to find what has managed to so wholly capture his attention.
EPOV
"Sweet Odin," I find myself whispering in awe as my attention is fully detained by the enchanting beauty stepping through my bar's threshold. My undead heart clenches as my eyes register flowing, golden locks, so very similar to that of my lost child, and those all too familiar, captivating sapphire eyes…fucking incredible. I have to shake my head, reminding myself this is not my Pam stepping so surely across my bar.
"Unbelievable," Godric chimes in, his own attention focused upon the golden beauty across the way. "And her scent…how intoxicating," he adds distractedly, bringing a smirk to my lips before I, too, scent the heavenly aroma wafting through the air.
I freeze then, the sweet scent of the attractive blonde being clouded by an all too familiar scent. No fucking way. Godric tenses beside me, shooting me a meaningful gaze as I know he's recognized the same scent as I. The two of us are instantly on our feet and across the bar in a blur of color before I have the traitorous vampire held firmly by the throat. I'm literally shaking with rage, Godric's steady hand upon my shoulder the only thing keeping me in check as the terrified vampire begins to tremble in my iron like grasp.
"Hey! What the hell is your problem!?" sounds out beside me and I slide my gaze over to see the blonde from before hitting me with an accusing glare. "Let go of my boyfriend, now!" she demands, managing to shock me with her utterly fearless demeanor.
"This matter does not concern you, human," I shoot back sharply as she steps forward, meeting my fierce gaze with one of her own.
"I disagree, vampire," she shoots back, actually reaching up to push at my shoulder in a show of aggression. My brows shoot to my hairline. Never, in all my life has any human treated me in such a way and lived. Just who the hell does this mortal woman think she's talking to?
"My child is right, little one," Godric chimes in softly, stepping up between us. "This is strictly vampire business. You would do well to make your way from this place for your own safety," he tells her, earning a glare of his own from the stubborn beauty.
"If this concerns Bill, then it concerns me as well," she states determinedly, straightening her spine once more as Godric and I both look to her in shock. This human is either very stupid, or very brave, though I find myself leaning towards the latter as wisdom beyond her years is shining back at me from the depths of her sapphire eyes.
SPOV
I don't know who this scowling, blonde vampire thinks he is, but if he expects me to cower, he's definitely got the wrong girl. I meet his harsh gaze with one equally fierce, wholly unwavering and unwilling to back down even an inch. He finally nods firmly and looks over to his dark haired companion.
"If she is determined to stay, take her back to my office, Godric," he states, hitting me with a curious gaze. "Enlighten her to the dire situation her…friend…has found himself in," he adds smugly before he's pulling Bill from the wall, beginning to lead him away.
"Where are you taking him?" I demand, doing my best to keep my building fear from leaking into my voice as he turns back to me with a raised brow.
"Billy boy here is going to answer a few questions for me," he answers, a smug grin crossing his face as he pulls Bill's arm back hard enough to bring a pain filled whimper from him. "Don't worry. I promise not to hurt him too bad…for now," he adds with a smirk before he's dragging Bill away once more. I open my mouth to argue, but am stopped by the solemn gaze of the vampire I now know to be called Godric as he shakes his head at me.
"It would be unwise to push him, little one," he tells me, genuine concern shining in his bright, emerald eyes as I begrudgingly consent and let him proceed to lead me to the back of the bar. I hold my head high, unwilling to display any sign of weakness as we come to a surprisingly normal looking office at the back of the dimly lit bar. "Please, have a seat," he says softly, gesturing to a leather sofa as a sincere smile pulls at his lips.
"Um, thank you," I respond, sitting carefully in my dress as my eyes drift over the surprisingly benevolent vampire before me. He has such a youthful appearance, but the heavy weight held within the depths of his hypnotic, emerald eyes reveals a wisdom of one much older than what his outward appearance might suggest. Intriguing. I can hardly believe an obviously compassionate vampire such as himself would willingly associate himself with the blonde brute who's in such obvious need of some serious anger management.
"I am sure you have many questions," he starts, his soft, soothing voice easing the edge of my anxieties some as he sits upon a chair before me, a pleasant visage etched over his boyishly handsome face.
"I take it Bill is in some kind of trouble," I surmise, earning a firm nod in return. I let out a sigh as a slight frown forms over Godric's face. "It's bad?" I question hesitantly, earning yet another nod as the tranquil vampire lets out a deep sigh.
"I fear your…friend…was somehow involved in the murder of someone very close to Eric and myself," he tells me as my jaw drops in shock.
"No," I argue, shaking my head vehemently. "You have the wrong man, Godric. Bill could never do something like that," I assure him, seeing his frown deepen as he obviously is not nearly convinced of Bill's innocence as I.
"He may not have landed the killing blow, but I assure you, Bill was definitely involved in this murder in some capacity," he insists as I continue to shake my head, unwilling to believe Bill could be guilty of such a horrid thing.
"What proof do you have?" I challenge, seeing his lips lift to the slightest smirk, apparently amused by my unwavering stubbornness, before his features become solemn once more.
"So far we have only his scent to link him to the crime," he admits as I let out a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling much better about all of this.
"I would think it'd take much more than that to convict someone of murder, vampire or not," I throw out, earning an amused grin from Godric as he nods his agreement.
"Of this, you are most surely correct, little one," he agrees, tilting his head curiously as he seems to begin studying me closely. I'm surprised to find myself so relaxed in this strange vampire's presence, though not having to protect myself from intruding thoughts always seems to put me at ease. I suppose it was this very reason I found myself dating a vampire in the first place.
"So, you and the blonde," I start, pointing a thumb back to the bar. "You two are pretty close?"
"You could say that," he agrees with a small chuckle. "Eric is my child, so yes, we are very close," he reveals as my eyes widen in surprise.
"That's your child?" I question disbelievingly, earning more amused laughter from the dark haired vampire as he nods in the affirmative. "Is he always such an ass, or was that just his special way of welcoming me into his bar?" I throw out sardonically as a pained expression crosses Godric's face, effectively killing the earlier easiness between us.
"Eric is in a very fragile state as of now," he sighs out, clear pain lacing his words as I can't help but feel sympathy stirring within me. "The vampire that was found murdered," he starts, having to clear his throat sharply, apparently fighting back tears as I have a sudden urge to offer solace to the obviously hurting man. "She was Eric's child," he admits softly, his voice barely above a whisper as realization suddenly dawns upon me.
"I'm so sorry," I offer earnestly, suddenly understanding Eric's earlier hostility now that I apprehend the situation better. I'm surprised to find myself reaching my hand out towards Godric, but as he takes hold, squeezing my hand gently in appreciation, I find myself glad to have offered at least some form of comfort to him.
He raises his face, starting to study me closely once more and I can't help but wonder what it is he's searching for, what he finds to be so interesting about me. I'm not all that special, my disability being the only thing that really sets me apart, but as he knows nothing of my telepathy, I can't fathom what it is he finds so intriguing about me.
"Well," sounds out beside us, bringing me from my awed state as I sit up a bit straighter, pulling my hand back to my lap as Eric looks back and forth between Godric and I curiously.
"Well?" I question, using a voice much softer than before as I now understand Eric's current situation somewhat better, also knowing only too well the hurt of losing those closest to me.
"Bill has agreed to stand before the Magister at an upcoming tribunal," he states firmly, earning a firm nod from Godric as I'm left looking between the two of them in puzzlement. What is a tribunal? And who the hell is this Magister character?
"Your friend will be judged by a jury of his peers," Godric elaborates as I nod my understanding, feeling much better about this whole situation. Surely he will be found innocent of these absurd charges against him. Bill is no more a killer than my own brother; this has all just been some sort of huge misunderstanding.
"Alright," I say, standing from the couch to earn both vampires' unwavering attention. "When is the trial?" I question, digging Bill's car keys from my purse. I receive only silence in return and lift my gaze to see both Eric and Godric gawking at me in a mix of puzzlement and…adoration? Weird.
"Um, yes, tomorrow evening," Eric answers, shaking his head as his brow furrows lightly. "We shall leave at first dark."
"Alright, I'll be sure to be here before sundown," I assure them, seeing both their jaws drop in unison. It would actually be quite funny, given almost any other circumstance.
"Little one, a tribunal is no place for a human," Godric argues, clear fear shining from the depths of his emerald eyes. "It would be very dangerous for you to attend," he explains as I shrug absently, already having made up my mind on the matter.
"Entering a vampire bar was dangerous as well, but I seem to have made it through the evening generally unharmed," I answer offhandedly, seeing matching frowns aimed at me as they clearly disagree with my assessment.
"You would be risking your own death if you were to attend, Ms. Stackhouse," Eric gravely informs me, shocking me with my name; until I realize Bill must have revealed my identity to him during their questioning.
"And Bill is risking that very same thing; at least I assume death would be his punishment if he were to be found guilty of this crime, correct?" I inquire, earning dual nods from the vampires before me. "Well, it's settled then," I answer with a firm nod. "I shall see you both tomorrow night at sundown." They both look as if they want to argue but I refused be swayed as I begin making my way briskly towards the exit.
"Did that actually just fucking happen?" I hear Eric question incredulously and I have to smirk, shaking my head as I trail closer to the bar's exit. I know tomorrow could prove to be dangerous and I believe Eric and Godric's warnings, but I can't just stand idly by and risk the possibility of Bill being found guilty of a crime I know he's innocent of.
I make it to his car, opening the door with a defeated sigh. Now I have not one, but two, people to clear of murder charges. Just once I'd like to know what it's like to have only normal, everyday problems to contend with.