A/N: So...its been a long, long, long time. I am sorry. And admittedly I have gone back and forth about taking this story down. I lost a great deal of interest in True Blood for a period. However I hate leaving things unfinished. So, I have been perusing my notes and I'm picking the thread back up on this story. It will be a while between updates, but not three years long again. I promise. Sorry for the wait. Special thanks to: Zabuzasgirl, Saskiamq, VampireElf, KMSkars88, and belladu57 for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I own what is mine.
Chapter Seven
London, England 1810
The silence had returned to Evelyn's Salon within moments of Eric's call. She had returned to ignoring the vampiric giant while he continued to brood over her blanketed indifference to his presences. Yet, there was no denying the subdued thread of excitement that sparked in the air. Both Eric and Evenly were anxious for the impending visit of Godric, though for very different reasons. Evelyn had only encountered a vampire of Godric's supposed age and power only once and to say that meeting had gone well would be a vast exaggeration. Eric hadn't seen his maker in several decades, his master had been more than content to let his childe roam on his own for a time.
"Why?"
Evelyn blinked as Eric's soft question broke their silence for a second time that night. She raised a quizzical brow, "Why?"
"You've already taken a calculated risk by inviting one vampire into your home. Even if I have promised that no harm will come to you or yours." Eric tilted his head as he looked at her thoughtfully. His fingers tapped lightly against the settee that he occupied, "Godric has made no such promise and yet, you'll willingly invite him in?"
"You're very suspicious." Evelyn murmured amusedly as she took in Eric's pensive stare. Even now he was still puzzling out her motivations and actions as he tried to decide what exactly Evelyn was, "I'm simply curious."
Eric snorted lowly, never removing his gaze, "There's nothing simple about your curiosity. I do not control my maker. You will be at his mercy."
"Your fretting." Evelyn pointed out, unconcerned with the vampire's warning. Despite what Eric may have thought, Evelyn hadn't lived so long by not being cautious. Yet her choice of words must have been poor as Eric's contenance visibly darkened.
He opened his mouth to rebuke her, a shift in the air had both parties stiffening. Godric had arrived.
Eric was out of his seat and outside before Evelyn even had a chance to blink. He didn't see the ghost of a smile that passed over lips as she rose from her chair and followed him outside at a more sedate pace. Her deliberate slowness allowed the two vampires ample to converse and for Eric to pass off whatever excuses or warnings he may have wanted his maker to know. She paused briefly at the threshold of her home as she caught sight of Godric for the first time. Her hazel eyes widen curiously at the marked difference in height between childe and maker. If not for the fact that Godric's aura burned brighter than any light that Evelyn had seen, she would have thought that Eric the maker and Godric the childe.
She took a steady breath at the force of the older vampire's power. Evelyn had been lying to Eric when she had said she could feel the burn of life, of time – it was both intoxicating and unbearable now. Squaring her shoulders, she quietly began to distance her senses from the world around her. The power that seeped into the air was now too distracting for her not to. Her head buzzed painfully for a moment and then it passed as she stepped fully out of the house and began the trek to Eric's side.
Godric's head raised gracefully as he turned to look at her for the first time. His stelled blue eyes piercing as he studied her. There was an almost bored consideration in his expression before his eyes flicked back to his childe. Eric waited patiently as he let Evelyn's mere presence make an impression before he stepped back to introduce her, "Godric, this is Madam Evelyn Townsend. Evelyn, this is my maker, Godric."
Evelyn smiled vaguely as she bowed her head in acknowledgement, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Eric has been anxiously awaiting your visit."
"Has he?" Godric asked quietly amused as he felt a wave of annoyance from his childe. The woman before him was a curiosity in many ways. He could see that her interest in him was more analytical than she would have him believe, but such was the way of her kind. He smiled kindly at her as he watched her puzzle through some equation that only she could see, "I must say that it is an honor to meet one such as yourself. You'll have to tell me how my childe stumble upon you."
Evelyn's eyes snapped toward his though she did not outwardly stiffen. Eric did as his head swiveled almost comically fast towards his maker. She knew what question was ready to spring from his lips and spoke before he had a chance, "I'm afraid that your description is rather apt. Eric did indeed stumble upon me – though he does not know what I am yet."
"Oh?" Godric looked upon his childe in slight puzzlement and humor He tried to remember if he had ever introduced the Viking to one of the Sourcer Class. Her kind were so rare that he supposed it was quite likely that he had never had cause to – much like he had never had cause to introduce Eric to any of the Fae Folk...not that there would be much good introductions, "It appears I have been lacking in his education of our world, young one."
"Then perhaps you would be good enough to educate me now, Godric." Eric said lightly as his eyes twinkled almost deviously.
Evelyn held her tongue. The bet she had made with Eric had only stipulated that she would not tell or help him in his journey to discover her identity. She had never stipulated that he couldn't ask another. Godric, however, knew his childe well and the could practically feel the younger vampire's excitement though he tried to quell it. He eyed his childe in amusement before he turned his attention back to Evelyn, "How long have you and Eric been acquainted?"
"A little less than a month." Evelyn answered evenly.
"And you have not divulged what you are?"
"No."
Eric sighed tiredly, "Godric, is this necessary?"
Godric held up a hand to quiet his charge, never once looking away from Evelyn, "May I ask why this is?"
Evelyn smiled as her gazed flickered over the Viking. Eric looked back at her in disinterested irritation. It seemed that he had reached the same conclusion she had. Godric would not be helping him in his quest, "Perhaps I should let Eric explain."
The older vampire looked expectantly at his son. Eric took an unnecessary breath as he began, "Evelyn found my ignorance quite amusing when we met and refused to reveal what she was. I proposed a wager in which I would render that answer in a months time. If I was not able to produce the correct answer she would be free of my presence, if I did then she would allow me to claim her." Evelyn coughed slightly in reminder. Eric rolled his eyes, "Oh and I would have to grant her a favor if she ever found need of my services, should I not find the answer."
Godric's eyes widened in surprise, not sure if he was more stunned by his son granting someone a favor or by one of Source Class granting a vampire the chance to lay claim to their being. He turned toward Evelyn more startled by what she had agreed to, "You would allow him this?"
"I saw no harm in agreeing as I did not see him gaining that answer easily." Evelyn answered after a moment, "Though perhaps I was too hasty. I did not take into account that his maker would have the answer to his riddle. I will say it has been most entertaining in watching him puzzle it out. Your childe has little patience."
Godric huffed a small laugh as he eyed his son again, "This is true and I'm afraid he will find no help from me in this game he has entered. How much more time does he have on his wager?"
"Nine days." Both Evelyn and Eric intoned together. Eric with barely veiled frustration and Evelyn with an entertained smile.
"Then in ten days he can ask me what I know of your kind." Godric said simply as he looked at Evelyn with renewed interest.
She nodded her thanks, knowing that Godric had no reason to help her. She pursed her lips thoughtfully, "I might have to join that conversation. If you don't mind that this?"
"Of course not, young one." Godric replied lightly.
Evelyn smiled, feeling excitement at the prospect of hearing more about her own kind or at least a vampire's take on her kind. She raised a hand and gestured back towards the house, "Gentlemen, why don't we take this inside?"
"Gladly." Eric murmured as the vampire's followed her lead.
They were mere steps from the house when Godric asked, "You were working something out about me when Eric introduced us. Might I ask Madam Townsend, what puzzle I posed to you?"
Evelyn stiffened slightly and for the first time Eric could smell a hint of fear from the beguiling woman. It was masked by many different emotions, but it was the first time he smelt it from her. He looked bemusedly at his maker and only saw a knowing and satisfied glint in Godric's otherwise blank face.
"Was it through Austria about two hundred years ago that I heard of a vampire by the name of Godfrey. He was said to be hunting my kind." Evelyn answered brusquely as she watched Godric through veiled eyes, "It occurred to me that you may be this Godfrey."
"And?"
Evelyn paused on the steps of her home as Eric became wary of the sudden tension in the air, "Are you still hunting us?"
Godric smirked, "Why don't you tell me, young one?"
2011 Shreveport, Louisiana
Eric sighed in frustration as he met Pam's impertinent stare. It wasn't enough that Evelyn had swooped back into his life, but she had brought the past with her. He deliberated about how much he wanted to tell Pam and found he didn't want to rehash any of it. The sun would rise in an hour, not giving him enough time to go after the Sorceress and too much time for Pam to interrogate him. He really should demand more respect from his childe.
"Pam." Eric started, his fuse already too short.
"You know her, Eric." Pamela began drolly, well aware of what mood her maker was in, "You don't have to tell me that and guessing by both your reactions, you really know her. What I want to know is what happened."
The air was tense and Eric pinched at the bridge of his nose, questioning for the millionth time why he had ever turned a smart mouthed busybody like Pamela. As much as he cared for his childe, she could give him a headache.
"There aren't enough hours in the day, Pamela." Eric stated crisply as he made his way back to the basement and the mess that both he and Evelyn had made, "Evelyn is unlike anybody you will ever meet. Do not underestimate her."
"Is that what you did?" Pam couldn't quite hide her smirk as Eric glared darkly at her. Her gaze slipped the mess of a vampire on the ground and curled her lip in disgust, "What are we going to do about him?"
Eric toed at Randall's body and huffed in aggravation, "He won't wake for a while when he does we'll have a chat."
"So you are going to help her." Pam stated unhappily as she crossed her arms. As entertaining as Evelyn's appearance had been for the young vampire, she didn't need another Sookie Stackhouse running around causing problems.
"Evelyn is going to trade her life to a vampire that doesn't deserve it." Eric growled lowly, "That is unacceptable to me."
"Eric-"
"I'm not debating this Pamela. Call Joe – have him dig up anything he can on Evelyn. She's not hiding from me any longer." Eric shoved Randall's body to the side before heading to the bathroom to clean up.
xXx
Evelyn growled loudly as she slammed her hand against the steering wheel. Eric wasn't supposed to know that she was alive. Her nephew wasn't supposed to be held by a monster. None of this should be happening.
Try as she might, she couldn't find the thread that was currently unraveling her life. She drove until she was out of Shreveport and dumped her car on the side of the road. It would be too easy for Eric to trace it back to her. Slamming the door behind her and narrowly missing stepping into the mud, Evelyn began the long trek back to Shreveport. Already she was making a list of what she needed to do. Plotting out the moves that would occur once Randall was free of Eric's grasp, but more than that she plotting the moves that Eric would be making.
Much like a loom, threads of choices began to appear before her hazel eyes as she walked. She needed to remove emotion from her future decisions. She would need to ignore her past with Eric, the feelings he invoked. She would need to ignore her fear of Ocella and the uncertainty his presence caused her. She would also have to ignore her love for Jesse.
Evelyn couldn't allow herself to be trapped again. She also couldn't allow Jesse to die.
Hours passed before Evelyn realized and suddenly she was staring at the townhouse that she had rented. Hours and she only had been able to make one decision amongst all the threads that she had woven and unwoven.
It was time to meet Ocella face to face.
