Godric expected his progenies and humans to welcome their guests at the front gate. So there they stood three powerful vampires and their fragile counterparts looking at the caravan made up of vampires, humans and their belongings. Pam steeled her gaze when she saw Russell enter first. His hands were gloved, but it was his habit to pull off the right using the same hand to take Pam's hand and kiss it. Releasing his hold after thoroughly disgusting the blond, he greeted the strapping Eric and his shorter, but more powerful maker.
"Godric," he greeted in a deep southern accent hinting to his time overseas in the southern states. Russell threw his arms open as if he were going to hug him, but he didn't. He twirled to admire the manor like he always did as if something had changed, but in reality it hadn't. Russell appreciated a show and he gave it willingly so he could be talked of or about, in any case he was remembered long after he left. "I love the look of the place. Dark," he turned to Godric's pale progenies. "Sexy," he lowered suggestively.
"You must forgive father," a thin man almost as tall as Eric came in, "he can never go anywhere without half of the house with him," he pointed to the luggage being brought in.
Pam glared at the amount of luggage and the extended stay it implied.
"It's quite fine. I like my guests to feel as if they are at home," Godric replied graciously.
Russell titled his head letting his first choice take the lead. "This is my first choice Brandon," he stated. He could understand the distaste of delving into business so quickly. They had all the time in the world, but he still enjoyed living in every embarrassing, cruel, happy, sinister moment.
Brandon rolled his eyes at his abrupt introduction. Like his father he took Pam's hand up gently to his lips and kissed it. "You must forgive him for that too."
"Must I?" Pam returned.
"We will be family soon whether you choose me or one of my siblings. Daddy is non negotiable," his smile was charming. His voice was deep and everything she liked in her men. She could see spending a night with him. An eternity was a whole different story.
"Come come, let them deal with the bags," Russell gathered the others. Their servants were capable, with a diet of vampire blood to keep them sprite and young.
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Brandon Frey (Brand) the lean dark haired knight wounded in battle and reborn as Russell's progeny, he was a charismatic spirit whose chivalry women found endearing. His hair was dark hanging down to his shoulders. And his eyes, when someone dared look close enough, were like dark glowing marbles that hinted a menacing version of the charmer he portrayed.
Cordelia Felt a fit blond that stood at Pam's equal height, her hair was braided. The braid wrapped around her neck like a fair scarf that contrasted with her black corset and dark jeans. She almost died in childbirth an unlikely progeny for Russell, but it was a decision he didn't regret. She had been Talbot's suggestion and Russell's youngest closer to Pam's age.
Parker Joyce a poet, who held women in high esteem until one of them broke his heart. When he was turned he killed the lover, who spurned him, but not before Parker made her watch him eat the man she left him for. He hated love so he more than anyone was opposed to marriage. He hated Pam by reputation. In flesh and blood she didn't change his opinion she was beautiful with a dangerous look. She probably ate men's hearts for breakfast, lunch, and desert he thought to himself. Parker was gift to Talbot, who enjoyed his poems and his artistically dark view on life.
Jamison Stahl, a quick witted vampire that killed without mercy. He was the shortest of the men and with Pam wearing her heels, he was barely eye level to her. He smiled openly undressing her.
Truman Legend a boy, literally, he didn't look any older than twelve. Talbot's favorite companion to dress since the young looking vampire didn't care for fashion. He had an innocent face which was more deadly than one much older and suspicious. Many vampires and humans died under the boy's hand because they didn't sense his evil. Talbot loved that about him.
John Pierce a war hero from the Revolutionary war was an adopted progeny when Russell killed his sire. He proved to be one of the most loyal progenies. Russell adored him and occasionally spent evenings in his bed when he was welcomed in Talbot's.
Miriam and Lucas Donald are redheaded twins with little capacity to love, not much was known about the twins. They were Russell's pets willing and able to do the dirtiest deeds. They were young and obnoxious for their six hundred years, but Russell thought it was cute. They regularly played games with each other, and with others always ending in a blood bath—they were a messy pair.
Pam had encountered the redheaded twins before. They rarely did anything without the other. It was a very codependent relationship that turned the vampire off. They were an attractive bunch, but that was it. She stared at her selection wondering how Russell could have found them remotely worthy to live forever.
Talbot Angelis was Russell's lover, a former Greek prince, with alluring glint in his eyes. Talbot looked Pam over appreciatively, but his opinion on this match was still yet to be concluded. Godric was a very powerful vampire and considered wise in some circles. Talbot was uncertain if it was wise to be connected to a family lead by a hermit. Despite his reservations he stayed silent. Russell was the head reducing Talbot to the lover that warmed his bed. They were Russell's children, but he was as much responsible for their upbringing as the older vampire he liked to think. He took special interest in this blond Russell considered marrying off one of their children to.
"I brought gifts and exotic food," Russell pulled the hand of his lover as he started down the hall to their normal chambers. He trusted that everyone would be on their best behavior without their presence for a while. "Play nice kids," he called back before he and Talbot sped away.
Pam rolled her eyes at the stares they were giving her. Turning abruptly she sped away as well. When she stopped she stood in the stone hallway leading to the dungeons. It was the only place no one expected her to be.
"Shit," she breathed. Her options were a joke. Handsome and attractive ruthless and sinister jokes that Godric wanted to be bound to by marriage—she could not understand her father's logic.
"You could run," she heard a voice.
She turned to the shorter Jamison a thin head of hair on his head. His voice was deep and masculine, but it didn't make up for his effeminate hands.
"Or you could accept your fate as a pawn in large game."
"Thanks for the advice," she bit back the word stalker, she promised to be on her best behavior, sort of.
"What do you believe in?" he asked with grave seriousness.
"Personal space," she deadpanned.
"Beautiful, shame about the mouth though. If you choose me I can find better use for it," he promised with a dark smile.
"I'll be sure to keep that mind when I decide," she growled.
Jamison nodded his head, "Dinner's at one, I was sent to tell you." Then he was gone.
Pam hated this shit. The vampire could only imagine, what other forms of morbid courtship awaited her with Russell's brood.
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Truman knew his presence was a joke. His body could never be desirable to any woman no matter how brilliant his mind. He was over four hundred years old. A toy for Russell's lover when he decided to cuddle up to something smaller and act like the 'mother' he thought himself to be. Talbot was a cruel blind bitch good for one thing and Russell made use of that one thing as much as possible. Years with Russell made the former Greek prince lazy and Truman hated laziness. When Truman was a boy, a human boy, he was taking care of four sisters. He couldn't do much for them when fever took them over. When Russell found his family they were dying. Truman was coughing up blood holding the youngest in his arms, refusing to let her die alone and selfishly refused the fate for himself.
He walked the halls rich with history. There were portraits in the lower halls. They were painted with materials popular for each decade. He hadn't taken Godric for the vain type, but the two pretty ones he could understand that they wanted their beauty showcased from every time period.
Pursing his lips Truman listened to the house. Dinner would start soon. He didn't want to go. Though, Russell had given them warning to be on their best behavior. He would try, but Truman made no promises to keep the promise he made.
The twins would have their fun. They weren't worried about the alliance. He didn't know if they were capable of taking anything seriously. Jamison, he saw go after her before he went exploring would be her most avid admirer. He liked women. He liked to crush them and break them and make them less than what they were, killing what attracted him to them in the first place. Pam wouldn't fall for him though. She looked smart enough to run from danger or at the very least attack it back before it was too late.
Truman observed with a keen eye. He knew the candidate she would think the most probable match would be the charming Brandon Frey. He was one of the worst. John was too quiet and reserved; she wouldn't think him charming enough. He wouldn't court her as adamantly as Brandon or Jamison. Cordelia liked the company of women occasionally, but he doubted she had thought of committing to one for life. Russell didn't take much of anyone's opinions to heart. If he had Parker, the brooding poet, wouldn't have been brought against his will.
He felt his master call him, dinner time.
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Bast heard the visitors. Some were loud while others sent a sharp shiver down her spine, when their eyes looked over the paintings and tapestries. On a perch she had claimed in the main hall she watched them admire the manor and find their rooms. Then she smelled her. The smell was familiar. Then she saw a trail of people of different shapes and colors. They were all bound and being led by a thin old man whose fangs came out playfully on a dark haired woman that cried out in pain from the bite.
"Good," he gleamed.
"Fireflies," she whispered. She sniffed bring her head up. If she had a heart it would have fluttered.
"No," Lafayette stood by the blond girl with the lowered head. He glared at Tara, who dropped from the shadows.
"I want it."
"T..Bast," Lafayette got her attention but her eyes were still fixed on the blond.
Bast jumped down to follow the small troupe.
She followed at a safe distance. When they stopped Bast stopped directly behind her hiding herself from their caretakers prying eyes.
"Are you a firefly?" she whispered. The blond head rose slightly then turned.
"Tara?" she whispered her eyes were dead when they looked on the stranger. Then upon realization they became wild with hope. Hope, it had been a long time since she entertained what that word meant. It meant home and being surrounded by the people she loved and loved her back. Too long had she been in Russell's care. A month was long enough for her to wish for death. The other eleven were pure hell, or at least the version of it she never wanted to see again.
The dark skinned woman drew back, there was that name again. First her demon and now her firefly why would they call her by that name?
"Are you a firefly?" the vampire asked again.
The blond glared, "I thought you were dead. They came for us and you were gone…I thought you were dead," she shivered and Tara felt a ripple of fear rush through her, but the emotion didn't belong to her. It belonged to the firefly. "Lafayette, get me the hell out of here," the blond whispered harshly looking around Bast, but never let her gaze land on her.
Bast tilted her head. Why was the firefly afraid?
The blond looked taken aback when she focused on the voices in her head. She focused on Lafayette's voice overriding Tara's. It was strange to listen to two voices from one mind. But, she was grateful to hear the voices she had been thinking for a year were gone.
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Truman played with napkin on the table. He looked up when the food milled in under the care of Chamberlain, an old human they made a vampire and kept because he was a loyal joke. The boy glared and then his eyes found the dark skinned vampire following the food.
Godric eyed Bast nodding her over.
"Who is this?" Russell he gushed over the dark new edition staring at the faces around her blankly.
"She is a mystery Godric's been trying to solve," Eric confessed.
"Mystery," Cordelia's ears perked with intrigue. "What kind of mystery?"
Bast sat in a chair positioned at the center part of the long table. She sat across from Brandon with Truman to her right and John to her left. What an awful place to sit, but Godric had ordered one seat stay absent and that is how Bast came to be sandwiched between Russell's spawn.
John didn't acknowledge her, Truman gave her bored look.
"We like games," Lucas shared with him and his sister Miriam. "She's not that old," Miriam followed behind her brother. They seemed to forget anyone else was in the room and talked about who Bast could be. A rogue vampire, a former dentist, perhaps a stripper from another planet that made her way to earth, and as soon as she landed she was turned.
The room answered the last assumption with a critical silence. The twin, who offered it, cringed from the admonishing look from his father.
Pam drank her blood needing something older and stronger to get through this meal. Not only was the conversation on It, but Jamison was eyeballing her and Brandon was trying to build a whispering rapport. They were a table of fucking vampires. Super whisper all he wanted super ears were going to hear it. Maybe it was better for It to be the center of attention. The conversation wasn't on marriage—one subject she was tired of hearing.
"I like fireflies," Bast stated.
Parker glared at the woman he had surmised was evil by being female. Now he considered her an evil idiot. Determined to ignore her for the rest of the night, no matter how determined his family was to talk about her.
Pam rolled her eyes, "here it goes." Eric smiled briefly at his sister.
"Fireflies?" Talbot repeated his Greek accent strong and seductive as he spoke. He leaned forward sitting on the same side of the table he turned his head to the left to see her.
"I like your firefly," her eyes roamed to the blond, who kept her head down. She looked passed Brandon. Pam who sat beside Brandon looked for an older year of blood she was sure was on the table somewhere.
"Can I have it?" Bast asked the line of her mouth formed into a smile.
Russell stayed silent and intrigued. His palms were clasped as his chin rested on them.
"Maybe she is an alien," Lucas stated.
"What would you give me for it?" Russell asked intrigued. Godric narrowed his eyes at his guest. He didn't know what Russell was playing at.
"What do you want?" her unfocused eyes landed on him with clarity. Lafayette listened for Sookie's cue when Sookie heard Russell's answer she screamed the thought to Lafayette, who had taken control over Tara.
"Bailor's killer."
Truman became intrigued.
"Russell?" Godric caught the feral gleam in his eyes. She was speaking to him, and he understood her, but whatever her words meant to the older stronger vampire wasn't making him happy.
The vampire stood quickly fangs bared, he spoke in his foreign tongue enraged, "I know who you are." He sped towards her slamming her on the table putting all his weight on her throat. Lafayette didn't fight him. He kept Tara's eyes open and her hands face down on the shards of glass the impact of her body crushed.
"Enough," Godric rose slowly and menacing. He didn't know the history between his guest and Russell, but he wouldn't stand for this outrageous behavior, the vampire's age be damned.
Russell looked up then pulled away towering over her prone form. "My apologies for acting abhorrently in your home. But if you understood what it is you have here, you would let kill her slowly and painfully."
"What has she done?" Eric asked calmly rising to his full height staring at the other vampires, who were slightly crouched above their seats. He liked being outnumbered, it made fighting fun. His sister didn't move but he didn't worry. She sat self assured with the miniature arsenal under the table, they always kept for unruly vampires that needed to be put down quickly. The guns were strategically spaced on the end where Godric always sat on the right side of the long table where his progenies sat close.
Russell glared down. This wasn't the time or the place to discuss such personal matters so publically. She was his and that shouldn't be questioned, but this wasn't his home. He looked at his progenies ready to fight if he asked. But, it would ruin the bigger picture. He wanted Pamela Swynford de Beaufort; he glanced at the object of his obsession.
"If she is your guest then I refuse to be," Russell stomped off the table heading to the door.
Lafayette yelled after him, "free the firefly and you can do whatever you want with me you sick fuck."
Russell stopped walking.
A crooked smiled crossed Bast's face, "you me in one room think about how much fun we'll have."
Russell was intrigued shown by the slight turn of his head towards the table. Lafayette guided Tara's body to one knee. "This shit doesn't happen without your word."
The older vampire didn't hesitate, "you have my word. When I have you your firefly will be free," he glared.
Godric didn't like to be left in the dark. Lafayette turned to him, "I don't know you well enough, but you're a better vampire than most from what I've seen. I give you the firefly you promise to keep her safe. A life for the life I spared," she nodded toward Eric. The pale vampire glared from the recent memory of his unexpected defeat.
Godric agreed.
Russell ordered Chamberlain to free the firefly. The old man looked at him blankly. Lafayette using Tara's body jumped off the table picking Sookie's head up in her hand. "Your life is more important than ours," he thought knowing she would hear it. He knew Tara, in her right mind, would agree. Chamberlain freed her from her chains.
Sookie rubbed her raw wrists while Lafayette looked at the expectant Russell. Lafayette took one last look at Godric, who had stepped forward putting himself between Russell's progenies and the girl. Barely turned Sookie grabbed a hold of Tara's head pulling her down causing their lips to meet. It was a spark. No one could see it, but Bast could feel it. It was a glimpse and an open door for the young vampire to walk through when she was ready to accept who she use to be.
Bast released the firefly, having control of her body again. Struck with a calm serenity she would have to cherish for brief moment and keep hidden away when Bast needed it the most.
"Goodbye Tara," Sookie whispered hating to let go, but knowing she must.
Bast didn't understand why her feet were moving toward the evil she wanted to instinctively run from, but she didn't fight it. It seemed right—just like it felt right to be called Tara again.
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I have a confession to make…. There are those of you who might think I'm a natural tease (in part I am). But, it is so hard not to throw everything in one chapter cause I'm so excited for you to read it. I'm having so much fun putting this together…I'm keyed up to share the twists and turns and back story for this fic…ugh…the real world sucks! More pages soon though.
