Author's Note: Hey Y'all. I'm sorry about not updating in awhile. I have very recently moved to Chicago, Illinois. My first time moving to a new state and out from underneath my parent's house. A big change and I have been getting used to the new surroundings. Is their such a thing as culture shock when I lived in Iowa? I'm sure there is since Chicago is like a better version of New York, i'm just guessing. Well enough about my life. I hope you enjoy the fourth chapter in Again, but Better. Please leave a review of what you like or disliked. I would very much appreciate any compliments or comments. Thanks and i hope to be updating the next chapter really soon!
Sookie closed her mouth.
Godric.
He was sitting comfortably before her. Her mind flashed back to the rooftop of the Carmilla Hotel.
The morning sky witness to a scene that was filled with nothing but dread, not of hope.
The blue flames engulfing his small form; particles of light and ash in the wind till the thick cloths of fabric flatten and crumble to the ground.
The parting smile he wore when he surrendered to the sun. The parting words that still struck her heart.
Sookie shook her head.
Regrouping herself.
Taking a deep calming breath.
Godric inclined his head to Eric.
He even gave her a smile, which killed her on the inside, she knew the truth that lied behind that smile. The thought of leaving this earth after two-thousand years of existence.
"Mr. Northman, what do I owe the pleasure?" Godric spoke with authority.
"Sheriff, it has come to my attention thanks to this human." Eric gestured to Sookie. "Your life is in danger."
"Nonsense!" Stan shouted. Sookie remembered the cowboy vampire. Stan had wanted nothing but bloodshed in the church. If it hadn't been for Godric appearing when he did - Sookie's timeline would have been filled with more dead bodies.
"Stan." Godric commanded. The cowboy vampire silenced.
"Godric, I think it would be better to have this conversation in private." Sookie interjected.
Godric lifted his brow, turned his attention to Eric and back to Sookie, he nodded. Godric didn't seem angry when Sookie spoke out.
He just stood and gestured to the hallway.
Sookie kept a close eye on him and the way he was walking - Godric looked weak. Like he hadn't fed in awhile. If it would help she would offer her own to him.
Godric led them to a room down the hallway and into an open doorway that led to an open room. Sookie took a quick glance around the room. A four-poster bed with red satin sheets and a pure white large comforter with white pillows stacked elegantly on top of one another. There were no windows and considering where she was at she nodded in approval as the vampires needed a light tight space to rest. The room was almost bare if not for the bed.
Eric closed the door. The door closed with a thud. Sookie shook her head out of her thoughts and focused on the conversation.
"Eric, I'm surprised." Godric spoke first breaking the silence.
"Master." Eric knelt before his maker.
"Not that I mind a visit from my child. It's been a long while ever since you took the job as Sheriff, I believe."
"Godric, my human has delegated important information to me, regarding your thoughts on meeting the sun. Is this true?" Eric's voice diminished towards the end of his sentence. As if wishing to the old gods that his maker had made a lapse in judgement. He knew Godric and he wouldn't want to leave this world without him.
The earlier quip of Godric's life being in danger resonated in his thoughts once more; Godric glanced in Sookie's direction and back to Eric.
"It is." Godric confirmed.
Eric's head lowered in silence.
"You've got me curious on how you knew." Godric directed the question to Sookie this time.
Holding her gaze in a calculating manner.
"Godric, like I told Eric, I'm from another point in time. In my reality you gave up to the Fellowship and I was there when you decided to meet the sun. I am here to deviate you from following down that path."
Sookie took a step closer to Godric. She didn't break his gaze. Honesty would be her best bet right now. And she didn't feel like lying to the ancient vampire. He deserved honesty. He deserved much much more. And it pained Sookie to watch the one vampire that had switched her views on vampires like this. Like a former shell of who he once was.
"It is not up to you. It's up to me. It would be my decision to meet the sun. To give myself over." Godric spoke with a hint of pride.
"All for what? To see humans at their best? Godric your sacrifice doesn't end any prejudices against vampire and humans." Sookie took a step near Godric.
"All your sacrifice does is hurt your two progenies. Even Nora meets her end." At this Sookie stopped head cast down.
"Do you really want to leave this world knowing one of your progenies doesn't make it?"
It was in the next moment in which Sookie saw the first reaction. The first bit of real emotion.
Godric was instantly before her, fangs out, his hold on her waist- his arm snaking around her torso - and before she knew it her body was flesh to flesh with his. Sookie lifted her head up from the ground.
It was the wrong thing to be feeling but Sookie found herself turned on. She blamed it on vampires in general. But this wasn't the time to be thinking about such things. If her Gran could only see her -Sookie wouldn't want to hear what she would of thought.
"Godric." Eric spoke, but Godric wasn't hearing. Sookie maneuvered herself so she was out of his hold a little. So their bodies weren't touching and spoke up,
"I'm not afraid, Godric. I'm more afraid of seeing you bursting into flames. Seeing how much your loved ones will miss you. You once asked me if i believe in God's forgiveness. And i said that he forgives, but i would be lying if i'm going to speak the same in this moment. I want you to chose to stay."
Sookie held strong and continued,
"In the short amount of time i got to know you, my views of vampires changed. And if i was met with an unruly situation i wouldn't mind being saved and turned if i knew you would be the one to do it."
Godric left the room. Without one such look in her direction.
Leaving Sookie with a shocked Eric.
And Sookie to come to grasp with new feelings.
"You keep on surprising me, Sookie."
Eric whispered when he brushed by her shoulder.
Sookie gave Eric a glance.
She still could see her Eric - signing the deed to her house back to her, the Eric who had lifted her in his arms after she had given Bill his true death, the one that always looked at her with some sort of hidden plan.
But when she glanced at this Eric - Sookie couldn't see any of that. Not the gentle viking she had the pleasure of meeting when the witch Hollow had cursed him. She had to keep reminding herself he wasn't the Eric that she knew.
Sookie soon followed after Eric when Eric led her to the center of the room. Sookie passed by the nest of vampires and she could feel their voids pounding on her thoughts. Her shields were down and the human's thoughts bombarded her enough to make her sway off kilter.
Eric was behind her. To steady her.
Sookie caught the small action.
And it was enough for now.
Godric has taken a step in that moment to come to her. To steady her fall. Godric would see she was here to help him. To save him.
All she needed was time.
For now she had it.
But she didn't know the events that would follow.
Sam couldn't trust Illyria's words.
He could only value her trust in her actions.
She'd sent a shifter along with him to help him with a human killer that got it out for vampire loving females.
Sam loved Sookie.
It wasn't a secret. Most of the employees and townspeople of Bon Temps knew he'd secretly fancied the blonde barmaid.
So it was to his shock that Sookie knew what he was. And knew the feelings he had for her. She didn't say it out loud to him, but he could see years and years of hardship underneath that smile she gave. He could see the pain and struggles, the sorrow and even the happiest memories in her stare - her eyes actual mirrors into her soul.
Sam didn't want to see her hurt.
And he knew she hadn't lied when she recounted her past.
Rene was a killer. Plain and simple.
It should have been hard to get evidence. But Sam laughed at how easy it was to uncover evidence of Rene's lies.
He was the homeowner of Arlene's place. And he'd waited until Arlene and the kids went to bed. As well as Rene. His blood pumped cold beneath his veins at the picture. He found an old yellow tool box that included many tapes on changing dialect and tapes that were clearly labeled. And tapes Sam was sure that would hold enough evidence for a death penalty verdict. It was all the evidence he needed to give up to the authorities.
"Sam." The other shifter got his attention when Sam saw him walk into Arlene's room.
"Wait." But Sam's gesture was a bit too late. Sam wanted to do this without incident. He needed to get Arlene safely away from Rene. It was his town and it was his duty to protect those he cared about.
On light feet, Sam rushed his step to the room. From heightened senses, Sam could smell the air from the room and could hear two snores that blended into the night.
Sam inched his way towards Arlene. He motioned his arms in front of him intending on cradling her away from Rene's sleeping form. But Rene was a bit faster and held Arlene his grip, eyes wide open, and his hand brandished a sharp knife that was secretly hidden beneath the pillow.
"Sam, what a surprise." A deep southern accented man rasped. Rene looked at Sam with killing intent.
"Rene. Let's talk about this." Sam's voice held caution.
"Sam. Rene why?" Arlene's voice cuts in. Sam could see his red-haired friend frightened and in pain. All Sam wanted was to rescue Arlene.
"Rene. No I guess it's Drew."
"How do you know?" Surprise flickered within his face.
Sam's backup wasn't going to wait for an 'all clear' which made Sam think faster on his toes. He didn't want to see Arlene in trouble. And Sam knew he would have approached this situation a bit differently.
Like wait till Arlene left for work. But he also had her kids to consider and they were safer asleep then awake.
"A friend told me. And we're here to put a stop to your killings."
Rene's grip on the knife tightens on Arlene's neck a drop of blood coated the steel knife and Sam knew he needed to act fast. Although it seemed Sam didn't have to worry.
The shifter that tagged along made his way behind taking use of the shadows and shifted his arm - not his whole body, but a part of his body. Sam was in awe at the pure talent his backup had. Wishing he himself could control the shift like that. Although it didn't matter how much in awe he was he had Arlene to worry about and set his focus on his friend.
His arm transformed into a body of a snake gripping Rene's neck with a vice-like grip. All of his blood was going to his face in need of oxygen although Sam didn't stop him. He should have. He should have given Rene to the police. Although Sam knew that the County Parish Police Department wasn't going to do anything without a solid proof of evidence.
Sam helped Arlene up. And comforted her.
"Sam, please tell me what's going on."
Arlene's voice lifted him out of his internal thoughts.
"Arlene, you just got to trust me."
Sam gestured to the yellow tool box. With a bit of hesitance Arlene knelt to the floor with shaking hands she managed to unlock the tool box. She gasped holding her hands to her mouth in shock. Sam could hear the beginning of her sobs. Sam had saved Arlene all thanks to Sookie's information.
And he wished Sookie would return soon.