A/N: Sorry for the wait, but I must have written this chapter SEVEN times before I got to a version that worked right.

Enjoy and I hope ya'll like the chapter. Once again I'm merely borrowing the characters, shaking them up, and then putting them in my own twisted version of their worlds. Kinda like a mad scientist, no?


Previously in the last chapter:

Luna gleefully watched as the two finally made eye contact and she internally grinned with amusement at their mutual, and rather reluctant, regard.

"Bryony meet the Sheriff of Dallas, Texas, Godric. Godric, this is the Omega Artificer and Mage Bryony Cassia Potter."


Chapter 6

Grey eyes clashed against stubborn emerald green, and a strange humming filled the air around them. A translucent gold chord appeared that connected them at the chest and slowly began to wrap around them and tug them towards each other.

"Resonance!"Bryony whispered, shocked. "How can this be? I thought Resonance was a myth…and even if it was true how could it happen between us?"

While not a myth, Resonance was astoundingly rare in the Supernatural world. It was when the magic in one being recognized the innate complimentary nature of the magic in the other, and responded. While many did not realize it, each person's innate magic was somewhat self-aware. When a magical creature met another, their cores would briefly touch. It was so quick and instinctive that most never felt it happen unless, for example, their magics were so opposed that an intense dislike was born. Since magic affiliations and characteristics were often passed through a blood line, it was why families like the Malfoys and the Weasleys almost never got along, and why vampires and wizards instinctually distrusted each other.

On very rare occasions though, two different people would have Resonating magical cores and personalities. When that happened, the two cores would meet and blend together in a way that formed a lifelong bond between the two. Those few who had gone through it rarely spoke of their experience, but the Supernatural Council had passed laws to protect Resonated pairs as it had been proven that working together their magic would be doubly strong and also viciously protective of each other. The idea, however, of Resonance happening across species was so far-fetched that the watching vampires and witches were shocked into stillness.

Stan summed up what everyone was thinking with a wide-eyed, "What the fuck?!"

"Resonating magical cores," Hermione whispered in awe to Dr Ludwig. "It's rare…I never thought I would ever actually see it happen….and with a vampire?! I would think that vampiric magic would not be similar enough to meld and bond with living magic!"

Luna quietly watched as the golden chord grew brighter and thicker between the two. She could see it moving as it tried to pull them towards each other. "I didn't see this coming. I knew that something would happen but I thought it was because Godric would offer to protect Bryony. This…this could be a problem."

Isabel glared at the seer. "It is an honor for anyone to Resonate with Godric! Not only is he an Ancient, but he is incredibly well-respected, wise, wealthy, and an honorably vampire. He will take care of her, and she will want for nothing."

Dr. Ludwig snorted. "Vampire don't be stupid. That girl has no need for money as not only is she the last of her bloodline, but she is an Artificer a master level spell creator. They don't exactly grow on trees and she will never want for a paycheck. Plus if any of the stories I've heard about her are true then I sincerely doubt she wants to be 'taken care of' like some pampered pet."

Isabel's mouth pinched shut but she wisely kept her thoughts to herself. She wondered what type of girl could match the strength and experience of the 2000-year-old vampire that most still called Death in fearfully hushed tones.

Dr. Ludwig watched as the girl seemed to struggle against her fate and clicked her tongue in irritation. "I'm worried about the girl. From what I've heard of her, she's flirting rather dangerously with magical exhaustion and with her magical eccentricities that is not wise. The vibration of their magical affiliation will also influence the Viking and he is near the True Death already." Dr. Ludwig shook her head and glared down at her watch. "If this is truly a case of magical compatibility, then there is nothing we can do except wait and see how it plays out."

Godric and Bryony were unaware of the conversations around them, caught up in the first stages of Resonance as the golden chord pulled them towards each other.

"What in Merlin's name-!" Bryony cursed as she felt her magic begin to stir and rise within her, and when she desperately tried to step away from the beautiful-eyed vampire and found that her feet would not move. "Look, whatever it is you're doing, stop!"

"Little one, I am not doing anything." Godric coolly spoke, and his eyes widened as he felt his own core shift within him. Like all magical creatures he had heard of Resonance, but after 2000 years he had never thought the rare event would ever happen to him. "You know that this is Resonance. To try and struggle against it is foolish."

From the couch, Pam had watched and listened in confused horror as the weak bond she had with Godric as one of his bloodline flooded her with strangely joyful and elated feelings. Feelings that she loathed. "What the hell is Resonance and what is my grand-maker doing?!" she thought. "Of all the times for Eric to be passed out! He could talk sense into his Maker and get him away from this girl!"

Unaware of Pam's thoughts, Bryony's eyes flashed with fire. "Look, you might be totally okay with this, but I'm not. I don't know you, I sure as hell have no reason to trust you, and I have no desire to be bound ever again!"

With that she dug deep within herself and viewed her rising magical core. She ignored every instinct that screamed at her to stop what she was doing, and resolutely wrapped her will around where the chord ended in her magical center and firmly yanked. She cried out when white hot scalding agony flooded her body. She whimpered when she felt the pain echoed in the vampire in front of her. Horrified at causing him pain, she immediately released her grip.

"What the-?" Bryony gasped, and opened bleary eyes to find her gaze caught in the silvery-grey stare of the vampire in front of her. The golden chord that connected them bucked and twisted, and it felt like her heart was about to explode. "If Luna knew that this would happen I'm going to curse her radish earrings!" Bryony internally snarled. To her irritation Bryony saw that while her magic had spiked dangerously, the vampire's was calmly contained.

"How are you so calm about this?!" she demanded as she struggled to keep her aura from reaching the Sheriff's.

"Why do you fight against it?" he quietly countered in a softly accented voice. "It is a rare honor to go through Resonance…am I not to your liking?"

"How could she not know that she was his, just as he was hers?" he wondered. "Am I such a monster that even my Resonated Bonded wants nothing to do with me?"

She blinked and while his face was carefully blank she could feel a vast sea of loneliness and pain within the stoic vampire.

The need to sooth his hurt filled her and she looked away, her jaw clenched, as she fought an internal struggle. Seeing him hurt pulled at her heart and she didn't know why. He was a stranger, why did she care what he thought and felt?

"You don't know me, Sheriff, and if you did you would run in the other direction as fast as possible. The troubles that come with me are numerous, nasty, and very determined."

"I am 2000-years-old, little one, I can take care of myself. And you." came the calm reply.

She was taken aback at that statement, and in her shock she lost what little control she had over her power. To her horror it joyously surged towards the waiting vampire's, and as the barest edges of their auras touched, she gave into a rare emotion for her. Panic.

"No! Don't!" The world shivered around her and she staggered, as she tried to find something to hold onto within the maelstrom of impressions that assaulted her mind.

Home. Trust. The alien feelings swept through her and overwhelmed her senses. As she fell, she was caught in a cold, yet gentle, grip and an amazing scent filled her nose. A sobbing breath went through her and the crisp smell of sandalwood and cedar calmed her rioting thoughts. The touch, even through clothing, amplified their exchange and Godric's magic gently surrounded her own and soothed the violent spurts and spikes within her temperamental magical core.

Stan sourly muttered a nasty curse word as he watched his Sheriff, who never touched anyone, cuddle the dark-haired witch. "I'm never going to get a chance to taste that witch now and the Sheriff doesn't even drink real blood. What a fucking waste."

Hermione and Luna glared at him before a sudden cry pulled their attention back to the two kneeling figures and Hermione eyes widened as they saw Pam standing over Bryony. Before they could interfere she viciously grabbed Bryony and pulled her from Godric. "What the hell are you doing to my grand-maker, you filthy witch?!" she demanded.

"Wrong! Enemy!" Bryony's mind screamed as skills gained in battle rose within her. With a bright flash, her power flung the female vampire against a nearby wall and held her there in a choke hold.

"Don't-!" Hermione tried to warn the female vampire and watched in dismay as Pam's body hit the wall with a large CRACK that caused the wall to buckle inwards.

Pam helplessly fought against the burning agony around her throat, and struggled to escape as the world began to darken around her.

Isabel shouted at Hermione, "Can you help Pam?!"

"No, Bryony will see any magical, or physical, action as a threat to her well being and will react violently to it. It's one of the reasons that no one touches her! That idiot just interfered with a Resonance Bond! Bry is acting on instinct, she could rip Pam apart, and all of us, before she even realized what was going on!"

Godric ignored the hysterical shouting and concentrated on moving past the agony that ripped through his body as he struggled to reach his little witchling who convulsed on the floor. He had warned Eric that he allowed Pamela too many liberties and that she was not old enough, or knowledgeable enough, to be released or to be treated like an equal. Obviously, he had made a mistake in trusting that Eric would train his progeny into being a respectable member of their bloodline.

"A mistake that I will fix at the earliest opportunity." he furiously thought. He struggled to contain his feral side. He had not felt such rage in centuries and the need for vengeance made his fangs ache. He had been deep within their melding and had assumed that they would be safe from interference within his own nest. Resonance was sacred, and for it to be interfered with was the height of stupidity! If Pamela cost him his little one he would rip out her fangs and then her heart, regardless of how his own son felt.

With deep sigh he reached his suffering witch and protectively pulled her small form into the curve of his body. He tucked her head into his neck and snarling at the others in the room.

He would not assume their safety again.

Her lovely scent was acrid with distress but with his touch their magics again began to merge and he sent her calm and comfort. "No one, not even a warrior, has such a violent reaction to being touched unless something has taught them to fear it." he thought.

Raising his hand, he laid his fingers upon his witch's pale cheek. Touching her bare skin for the first time caused an immediate melding of their magic and startled a rough purr from deep within his chest as he instinctively tried to soothe and calm his overwhelmed witch.

Slowly, she relaxed into cold arms and sighed at the purr that vibrated against her ears. She nuzzled into the cool throat and breathed in his addictive scent and reveled in his touch. "How long had it been since she had known such peace?" she wondered. She was overwhelmed, exhausted, and frankly no longer really cared what happened as long as it was over. The pull towards the vampire in her arms was mind boggling and with a sob she released the last holds she had on her magic. Their magics met, blended, and with a snap two puzzle pieces came perfectly together.

She lifted her head in shocked wonder and locked eyes on her vampire as the same feelings swept through them both. Home. Trust.

"Why was I so afraid?" Bryony dazedly thought, her mind and body soothed by his strength and calmness. Vampire magic was blood based and felt cold and clean compared to the warmth and energy of living magic…like a crisp winter's night under an endless starry sky. It brought to her mind the safety she had always found in the shadows that she had never experienced in the light of day. It blew coolly through her turbulent and tangled magic, and calmed it.

Her power twined through Godric's and she felt his soul deep guilt and loneliness. Fighting against memories, she raised a trembling hand and covered Godric's cold fingers that still rested upon her cheek. Home. Trust,she shyly sent to him, feeling an inexplicable longing to soothe his hurts.

"I swear upon my Blood that I will not harm you, or allow any other to do so, my witchling." his softly accented voice murmured in her ear as he drew her tighter against his body and soothingly stroked her back. "Release Pam, little one, she will be dealt with, I promise you." While Godric's eyes flashed with deep rage, his fingers remained gentle as they intertwined with his witch's.

Her eyes never left his, and slowly her pounding heart began to calm. Gradually, their magical cores unwound from each other, although she could still feel the connection between them. She looked inward and was surprised that her core now had a pewter edging to the midnight blue color. Determined to think about it all later, and away from the distracting Sheriff, Bryony abruptly released his hand and tried to roll to her feet on wobbly legs.

When she staggered, Godric moved and caught her so that she again rested lightly against him. He chuckled lowly, he could already tell that his witchling would be spirited and a challenge to learn. "She is used to being the one who watches over others," he realized. "That will now change."

Her cheeks turned hot with embarrassment and discomfort at how close they were standing, and at how weak she must appear. With a deep breath she shoved away her reluctance to move from his arms and pulled away from his comforting embrace.

"My apologize if I insulted you earlier, but I do not know you and have no desire for a guardian, father or brother in my life. I travel where I will and do as I please and will not be caged. Do you understand?" Her eyes were steady and her voice firm.

Godric nodded as he scanned his obviously exhausted witchling. "Little one I have no desire to bind you, but I will guard you at least until you reach your Maturity and can fully stand on your own." He spoke in a commanding tone, one that was used to being obeyed without question.

Stiffening, she narrowed her eyes. "Stop calling me that! I've taken care of myself for a long time, and while we may share a bond I have no desire for you to follow me around. While I may look like a child I am not one."

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she struggled to ignore both Godric's confused hurt, and her own chaotic feelings. Abruptly she looked around the room and deliberately changed the subject. "Bugger, I really did a number on your nest. I will fix it for you before I leave."

"It matters little, witchling. They are just things and can be easily replaced. Also I would ask you to stay-."

Godric suddenly stilled and looked over to the only intact couch still in the room. His son was once again shifting, and quickly he rose back into consciousness, screaming."

"Master! Godric, please, make it stop!" Eric gasped in Old Norse.

Godric moved in a blur and ripped open his wrist, as he again tried to feed his suffering Child. The pain he felt through their bond was immense, and he tried to pull the suffering from his Child to help him cope.

Hermione had been next to Pam but when she heard the Viking cry out in agony she moved to Bryony's side and looked at the magical readout. "There is nothing we can do, Bryony. He is too close to the True Death."

Dr. Ludwig shifted, but was hesitant to move. Makers were notoriously protective of their Childer when they were damaged and it was obvious that the Viking was nearing the end. The last thing she wanted was for Death to rip her head off.

Bryony ignored them all, and watched as her vampire tried to calm his progeny. While her vampire's face appeared impassive, Bryony could sense his intense agony at his inability to help his Child. She shifted, slightly uncomfortable. "Wait a second…MY vampire?! I have enough problems without adding to them! Walk away now before you drag him into your mess!"

She shuddered at the unexpected pain her thoughts brought her and changed her vision so that she could see the magic within the room. Gasping in surprise, her eyes fell on the bond between Maker and Child. It was built and strengthened over a thousand years of memories and it was the strongest that she had ever seen. A pang of intense longing went through her, only to be viciously squashed.

She walked forward and ignored the protective growl from the blond female vampire that she had shoved so viciously against the wall. She also had a bond, one of love and devotion, to the vampire on the couch although no where near as strong as that between Godric and his progeny.

She hesitated, before she rested her hand upon Godric's shoulder and sighed as she felt the hum of his magic settle against her. It was strangely soothing and amazingly addictive, and she basked for a moment before she concentrated on what must be done.

"You chose him a thousand years ago to be your companion." her voice was so soft that the watching witches had to lean forward to hear her over the Viking's cries. "Even a thousand years later, you are still devoted to each other."

"Yes. He is my brother, my father, my son. He is my only progeny, and my greatest accomplishment." he growled out. He was not used to being helpless and despaired that he could not help his Child.

She felt the echo of his intense devotion sing within his magic and she shivered against the onslaught of emotion within her. "To be loved so much…to have such loyalty and trust that it survives, and thrives, for a millennia," she thought wistfully. "What would it be like to know something like that?" Deep within, beyond the masks and walls she put up to shield her from the world, her heart ached with empathy. Magic whispered in her ear and before she realized it, she had made her choice.

"Move," she briskly commanded and gently nudged his shoulder.

Pam's fangs ran down in affront. This vermin dared to touch, and push, at her grand-maker! "Look blood bag, how dare you speak to the Sheriff like-!"

Bryony's eyes finally tore themselves away from Godric, and she glared at the female vampire. "Look, Dominatrix Barbie, I already threw you against a wall. Would you like an encore or do you want to save your Maker? He has about an hour before he turns into the first vampire Inferi and goes on a killing rampage." She shot a look at Stan when he opened his mouth, and she icily continued, "You might know them as zombies. So either move your tiny ass and let me try and break this curse, or I will move it for you."

The stare-off between the two women was interrupted by Dr. Ludwig. "Child,-."

"Call me Bryony. Or Omega, if you have to use titles, but as I said before I am no child." Bryony snapped.

Dr. Ludwig rolled her eyes. "Fine. Bryony, then. Let me be blunt. When I asked Hermione here I had hoped you would be convinced to help. Yet you are on the edge of magical exhaustion and it's obvious you've been unwell for awhile. Frankly I'm shocked that the Japanese didn't tie you down and force you to rest while you worked for them. It's unethical that they allowed this amount of degeneration to occur. You literally do not have the energy to write a counter-curse AND cast it. It's impossible, and as a healer I cannot allow it." Dr. Ludwig finished in an authoritative tone.

Luna snorted from where she leaned against the wall next to Stan and Isabel. "Bry makes it a habit to laugh in the face of authority. Good luck with that."

Hermione rolled her eyes and added, "Well, that and she has a saving people thing. You would not believe the trouble it has gotten her, and us, into."

Bryony ignored them and gazed into her vampire's darkened eyes, and to her own shock watched as her hand slipped up his shoulder to cup his chin. "What is happening to me? Why do I care so much?" Bryony thought, disturbed by her emotions. However, and much to her surprise, touching him seemed to ease and soothe both her exhausted magic and his own pain.

Her eyes never wavered, and they glowed with renewed strength. "Godric, I can save your child."

His eyes trailed over his witchling's face and noted her wan appearance even as he marveled, and enjoyed, at her gentle touch. "How much truth does Dr. Ludwig speak? I can feel how tired you are, witchling."

"I am stronger than I look." Bryony noncommittally replied and dropped her hand. "Why are you asking so many questions? I can save your Child, the companion that you've walked with through the ages. I am probably the only one who can and in comparison to a thousand years what does it really matter?"

Before he could reply Pam once again spoke up, and further risked inciting the wrath of her grand-maker. "Why would you change your mind? Before you couldn't get away from him fast enough. What changed?" Pam demanded. She cringed slightly backwards at the cold look Godric gave her, but the questions had already been asked.

Bryony hesitated, her bright eyes and face suddenly shadowed with memories, and Godric looked sharply at her as he felt the tangle of shame, anger, and betrayal. The look was only there for an instant, and made her appear years older to the watching vampire.

"I am a Mage, which is a fancy way of meaning that I can see the wild magic around me and read it. Yes, I would have ended the Viking before leaving, rather than let him rise as an inferi. Things have changed, obviously. Consider it my prerogative as a woman to change my mind and leave it at that." Bryony paused and offered a twisted smile that did not touch her eyes. "Besides, I can see their bond and it is beautiful. Such beauty should be preserved for it is rare in this world."

She turned and looked at her bonded. "Godric we don't really know each other, but when I give my word I keep it. Your child will be safe in my care, I will not allow the shadows to take him from you."

He looked at his witch with knowing eyes and raised his hand to brush his fingers softly over her cheek. "He is my progeny, but I will not allow you to harm yourself witchling. Your well being matters beyond your ability to do magic. We are Resonated, can you not use my strength to bolster your own?"

She blinked and considered the option. It was a strange idea, to rely upon the strength of another. "I can, but it will be difficult. Your magic is blood based magic, while mine is living…but it can be done. I think."

Godric nodded in agreement and lowered his hand. "Do what you must, witchling."

Hermione interrupted, "Bry he's almost too far gone! Remember what happened to you last time. This is stupid!"

She rolled her eyes. "You can either help me or walk away Hermione but I'm not debating this."

Hermione hesitated before she nodded and picked up her wand. "You've always gone your own way. Why stop now?" she bitterly grumbled.

"Girl, I told you that I will not permit-!" Dr. Ludwig huffed before she was interrupted.

Bryony did not even look up. "Look, I appreciate that you're doing your job, but let me be honest. You are not my healer, and I'm not overly interested in your opinion. I will be fine, I always am."

"Just because you are an Omega doesn't mean that you can disregard basic Magical Laws! Sheriff, you are Resonated with her. Do you not care that healing your Child could very well kill her?! She's not yet reached Maturity, her magic is already problematic, and she could further scar her magical core!"

Bryony spun on her heal and the look on her face made the doctor raise an eyebrow. "You are speaking to ME, healer. I, and I alone, am responsible for my actions so do not try and appeal to the Sheriff. I will heal the Viking and you can either help me or I get out."

"Excuse me?" Dr. Ludwig demanded, insulted.

"You heard me, healer. Either help me, or be like every other magical adult and be content to sit on the sidelines and complain while others do the work. Your choice." She ignored the faint disapproval that radiated from her bonded, closed her eyes, and centered herself. She gathered everything she had left, and when she opened her eyes, they glowed an eerie green.

Those who had never seen her during the war were amazed as her presence changed and the air around her fairly crackled with power. It flowed around the room and even the vampires looked at her with caution.

"Barbie-," she began before being interrupted.

"Pam."

"Hm?" Bryony was already busy reading the runes that flashed across the Viking's body.

"My name. It's Pam."

"Fine, although I think 'Dominatrix Barbie' has a catchy sound if you ever need a stage name," Bryony offhandedly replied. "I need some space to cast the runes around your Maker so you need to move away from him. The original spell won't work on vampire, but we don't have time to totally rewrite it from the ground up. This is going to suck." Bryony muttered the last sentence under her breath.

"So what will you do?" Dr. Ludwig asked, curious despite her irritation.

"I'm going to splice several spells together and use a version of the Mayan alphabet as glue to hold it all together. Those hieroglyphics tend to do well in balancing different types of magic. Hermione or Luna, do either of you have enough power left to place the wards?"

"I do," Luna replied before she began to cast some defensive wards around the room to keep out intruders.

"What can we do?" Isabel asked Hermione and Dr. Ludwig.

"Food. We're going to need a massive amount of food after this. Preferably food high in sugars and proteins."

Isabel nodded. "Consider it done." With that Isabel and Stan moved with vampire speed and vanished from the room. Hermione turned towards Bryony and studied the runic sequences she was writing in the air. While she wrote basic spells for her department at the Ministry, this was another level of spell crafting entirely, and was the literal blending of several cultures of magic together. Hell, half of it should be impossible!

Bryony continued to mutter to herself in various languages as she had to erase and re-write different parts of the sequences before trying to activate the runes. Each time she tried to implement them the runes would briefly glow before falling apart. Swearing, she continued to try different variations as the Viking began to grow paler on the couch and the infection within him spread. Slowly, the runic sequence grew longer, more elaborate and thus more difficult to continually recast.

"Bry, he's fading fast!" Luna called out. "You need to hurry!"

Godric watched in worried awe as the girl's spell casting increased, her wand a blur and her face obstinate. While he could read the runes, some of what she was trying to cobble together did not make sense to him. Minutes passed, the tension rose and his witchling grew ever paler. Her skin became damp with sweat and she seemed to sway slightly on her feet.

"Yes!" Bryony hoarsely shouted half-an-hour later as the 80-odd runic sequenced glowed silver as she activated it. "It's always in the blood sacrifice," she muttered. "How did I not think of that, he's a vampire and part of the Dark Court. Stupid!" She shook her head in self disgust. "Godric, blood will need to be involved as well from both you and Pam. I know it's sacred, but none of us will be drinking it, and I will need it to rebalance his vampiric magic within the bloodline. Good thing both of you are here, otherwise it would not be good.

"I will write and speak the spell and when I signal you need to drip seven drops of your blood directly onto the last rune. Godric, you will go first and we cannot be touching. After you, then Pam must immediately follow. Hermione you will stand at the north point, Luna the south, Pam will be the east and Godric and I will be the west. Your powers will balance the corners of the spell, but do not speak while I am casting."

As they all took their places Godric turned Bryony and looked at her vamipre-pale face. She was hiding something from him, something more than just her obvious illness. "Witchling-."

"Godric," she interrupted and her bloodshot gaze met his. "It will be fine. Now, join the circle and be prepared for your part. I will blend our magics after the blood offering." Quickly, she moved away from him and steadfastly ignored his burning gaze on her back. With a deep breath, she pulled out a knife, summoned the last of her strength, and began to speak the first syllable of the spell.