DISCLAIMER: I do not own this or the previous chapter, nor any chapter that follows this.
A/N: Feel free to use my concept just give me credit. I love reviews. I have no beta so all errors are my own. Any advice is welcomed.
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Godric POV
Having Hermione throw her arms around me was heaven and hell. I could feel her soft curves against my hard body. She fit me so perfectly. She felt so good against me. However, she was crying, even though the tears were of relief they were still tears and I was unsure what to do. My 2010 years had never truly prepared me for this type of trial. I was used to causing tears, not fixing them.
Not sure what I was doing I went with my instincts. I rubbed my hands in soothing circles up and down her back. It seemed to be working as her sobs silenced and she looked up at me with tear drenched cheeks. One tear was still falling so I reached forward and caught it on my finger before tasting it.
Just like blood the taste of tears could be influenced by emotion. Fear would make blood taste fuller bodied, joy or excitement of some type would make it taste sweeter. This tear tasted like heaven. I could feel the sweet taste lingering on my tongue and I could not stifle the moan that came from my mouth. My fangs clicked down and I wanted more. More of her essence. I did not care where I got it so long as it came from her.
Eric's hand clamping on my shoulder brought me back to myself and out of my euphoric haze. I sent him thanks before clamping down on my end of the bond. Anything else I felt tonight I wanted to belong to myself alone. Rather, anything Hermione made me feel I wanted to belong to only myself. Plus the amount of lust I was feeling from tasting her was beyond my normal level and Eric was already aggravated enough about it from earlier.
"You really care about your friends." Eric stated the obvious.
"They are my brothers." Hermione confessed. I noticed Ron looked downtrodden at the confession and I could not help the smug smirk that crossed my face. Perfect, she was ripe for me to take her. She was mine. Completely. I did not have to worry about her returning some boys affection. She would come to love me and only me! Mine!
I pulled Hermione closer to me and took in her sweet scent. She smelled of honey, vanilla, and the sea. I closed my eyes just relishing in this moment. I couldn't help how hard I was but sitting as I was, I was able to keep it from Hermione and ruining the moment. This was perfect. The only thing that ruined it was that we were not alone. Not that an audience bothered me.
Hermione pulled away with a large enchanting blush thanks to her friend Ron clearing his throat. "Sorry," she murmmered.
"It's fine." I wanted to wince at how fast I rushed that in an effort to reassured her. Did I sound as pathetic as I thought? Having these types of insecurities was foreign to me. I did not like it at all. For Hermione though, and only Hermione, I would put up with these emotions.
"No, it's not. Vampires don't like being touched." My childe said. I could hear the underlying smugness in his voice.
"Eric." I warned.
"Sorry Master." I didn't need the bond to tell he wasn't. Hermione was even more embarrassed now. I could also see some disappointment in the downturn of her lips. Studying body language for as long as I have been alive is paying dividens. The last thing I wanted was for Hermione to hesitate touching me.
"I make exceptions for beautiful women." I tried to reassure her. This only got a snort from her and a choked sound from her friends. Eric did not look pleased.
"If I see any, I'll let them know." I frowned at her. Surely she could see just how beautiful and sexy she was. She smiled at me and retreated to her seat.
"The cup. Who gets to kill it?"
"Perhaps you will let my childe and myself do it? Eric enjoys destroying things."
"As do you Godric." I could only nod. "Well give them here." Eric demanded.
"I see where Hermione gets it from." Ron leaned over and whispered in Harry's ear. Harry nodded amused. Hermione ignored their whispers and brought out the sword, holding it awkwardly thanks to how heavy it was. Eric would probably love to teach her how to fight with swords. I know I want to teach her how to handle mine. Gods, but I needed to stop thinking sexual right now. I needed all my concentration on this evil thing.
Earlier in the night when I had touched it I could feel the evil emanate off it. The thing felt slimy. I felt dirty and tainted after touching it. It brought a chill with it that was beyond death. I could taste the malice radiating from it. In short, it was nothing I wanted to stay around.
Hermione placed the sword down and pushed the hilt toward me. I picked up the sword and tested it before passing it to Eric, who repeated my motions testing the balance and weight. He nodded and grinned viciously in satisfaction.
"I think this is one of the best swords I've ever come across."
"Goblin's made it. So it should be." Hermione informed them. I raised my eyebrow. How on earth did they come by something so rare?
"It belonged to Godric Gryffindor who left it to any worthy of his name. Harry here is one of those worthy and he pulled it from an enchanted hat."
"What makes one worthy?"
"Bravery for one. The main one really. Selflessness is another." I enjoyed the light cadence of Hermione's voice as she spoke. It sounded soothing to my ears. It brought joy to my heart. She started to reach into the bag again and I zipped my hand out to stop hers.
"Let me get it, I don't want you touching it." She scowled at me.
"I don't need you to protect me." Independence is great to a point, but then it just became stubbornness. Of all the many things she inherited from her father I have a feeling her stubbornness is just another one.
"No. You are right. However, there is no reason you cannot let me take care of this small matter." I looked into her eyes using my full glamour. It was wrong and I know that. I was just trying to save some time and ensure she didn't have to touch the cursed item. She bit her lip and it sent heat rushing through my body strait to my groin. I wanted nothing more then to nibble it myself. The distraction of her nibbling her lip is the only reason I did not immediately catch on that when glamoured one does not bite ones lips.
"Well, I suppose there is no logical reason not to. I don't take well to orders though."
"Yes you do Hermione." Harry snickers. She glares.
"Oh?" That is interesting.
"Yeah, well when it comes down to learning she does anyway." Great, it would make my teaching her in the bedroom much easier. I grew hard just thinking about how I could instruct her to please herself and me. The first thing I would teach her would be to be comfortable naked under his gaze. That her body belonged to me and only me. I would teach her that her pleasure would only come when I allowed. I moaned out loud and closed my eyes. The slap to the back of my head had me jolting forward fangs out as I turned my gaze to Eric who knew exactly what I was thinking if his thunderous expression was any indication.
I fought the urge to swallow nervously. I am his Maker after all and thus I was alpha here. Sure he was my father, brother, son and so sometimes he was the leader and I the follower but in general I was the one in charge. I really should punish him for his insolence. This situation kind of reminds me of the first time Eric had made demands of me.
It was months after he turned and had control over his urges. He took one look at me and demanded I bath. When I refused he resorted to insulting me, saying I was afraid of water and my putrid scent proved it. I finally gave in and he dragged me to the closest river. I bathed. Then bathed again when he told me I did it wrong. Finally he got into the water himself and showed me how to properly wash my hair. It took three washes for it to come clean.
I reached into the bag Hermione held out. Seeing my arm disappearing into a small bag was a freaky concept even for my advanced age. Magic was, what is the modern term, trippy? Yes, trippy. I could feel books and coins, after a bit of searching I was able to find the slimy feeling cup.
I pulled it out and placed it on the table. The two boys and Hermione scooted back from the table and stood.
"It fights back." Ron's voice was haunted.
"I love a good fight." Eric was cocky as always. I had taught him not to be so arrogant, that it was something others could exploit, but you cannot take arrogance from a born Prince. No matter what you try.
"Jag varnade dig om din arrogans min son." I warned you about your arrogance my son.
"Tyvärr far." Sorry Father. Eric was sincere in his apology so I nodded to him to proceed.
As if sensing his intentions a black miasma seeped from the cup and reached out toward Eric. I quickly stepped in font of him to protect miasma seemed to freeze confused before surging forward toward me. The miasma clung to my skin and started seeping into my mouth and nose. I hissed trying to get it out of my body, but to my confusion it did not even stall it or push it out.
The arctic slime oozed down my throat and clogged my nostrils cutting off two of my senses. To my surprise I started choking on the miasma as if my lungs needed air and I was unable to get any air into the sacks. My hands reached up and I started clawing at my throat. I could feel my heart start to beat again and it was painful. I doubled over, blood flowing from my throat. My mind started to play through the memories of my torture by my sadistic maker. All the abuse visited on me.
"You liked it." Hissed a sibilant voice. "You deserved every bit of it. I know this, for I have seen your being. I have seen your all. And you crave it even now." I could feel bloody tears seeping from my eyes as I held back my sobs. I would not be weak. I could feel a debilitating crushing sensation on my chest. I felt like I was dying even though it was impossible. I knew I did not need to breath. I knew my heart was not really beating too fast. I knew I did not ask for the torture from my maker, but as I relieved those memories I could not help but feel hopeless and full of despair.
Then just as suddenly as it began I heard a roar and a clang and it was over. I found myself on the floor curled up in a ball. My throat and face bloody from my torn skin and tears respectively. I felt small soft hands in my hair and strong then Eric's strong arms were around me lifting me up and we were moving. I felt the bed underneath me with it's rough linens and I slowly uncurled pulling in oxygen into my lungs to calm myself and because I could. My heart no longer beat again and all that pain I experienced from not being able to breath was gone.
"Master, it is all taken care of. You are fine." Yes, I was fine. The memories belonged in the past. I had learned from them and I had overcome them. The past was were they needed to stay. I could feel Eric slip into the bed behind me and curl around my body as I slowly straitened. I could not let that evil win. I slowly straitened my body. It felt as if it should all ache but even my throat was healed.
I opened my eyes when I felt the mattress dip on the other side of me.
"I sent Harry and Ron out." Hermione answered as she reached her small hand out to my face and grasped my cheek holding it lightly as she brought up her other hand which held a washcloth. With slow gentle strokes she cleaned the blood from my face. I knew I should feel ashamed that she had seen me so weak. I was the one supposed to take care of her. But she is my mate and it is her right and duty to care for me. It was a great honor that she was doing this without me asking or her instincts demanding it. When she finished my face she moved down to my neck her left hand stroking my cheek. I kept expecting her to say something else or to ask questions. She did neither. It was Eric that broke our silence.
"What happened?"
"Just memories of my time with Appius." I murmered to him. He squeezes me tighter.
"I have never been so happy someone was dead." Hermione said. "He is dead right?" Did she see his memories? No, she did not act disgusted and horrified like she would had she seen them. She was just compassionate and intuitive. She could no doubt tell whatever I experienced was unpleasant and caused by Appius.
'Yes. I killed him after my 300th year."
"Good." She nodded and finished with the last of the blood. I leaned into her silky palm that was still stroking my face and resisted the urge to purr. I had never felt more comforted as I did lying in Eric's arms and being touched by Hermione.
"Why did the blackness hesitate before going for Godric?" Eric asked. I repressed a shiver remembering the cloying feel of the blackness.
"Tom Riddle, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, does not understand sacrifice, love, friendship, or anything positive. I am certain that in the moment you stepped in for Eric he was confused. That and you can sense the power of Godric is twice as large as your powers da-Eric."
"I would be honored if you called me any form of Father." Eric met Hermione's eyes over my head. Her teary smile warmed me.
"You are looking a bit paler then normal Godric." Hermione looked me over critically with her piercing blue eyes.
"I am fine."
"No, I don't think you are. You will take some of my blood."
Despite myself I was instantly hard at the thought. My previous moroseness was suddenly gone as it was a cloud blown away by the wind. I could feel my fangs click into place and my mouth water.
"I couldn't." I tried to protest anyway. Not that I mean it, but if I were to eager Eric would pick up on it even with our bond still closed.
"Your fangs give you away fader." Eric said dryly. Hermione giggled, the sound making me smile in spite of myself.
"If you prefer one of the boys…" Hermione trailed off with a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes to the image of her beauty in that moment. Her eyes showing her joy in the moment.
"You will be perfect, dear one." I was proud of the pause I was able to manage. My words did not rush out of my mouth this time incriminating myself like I had earlier.
"Perhaps I should go check on the boys." Eric stated unwrapping himself from around me and climbing over me to reach the other side of the bed. I was pleasantly surprised that he would allow me to feed from his daughter in private. Then again we both knew the effect of feeding on the participants and I doubted he wanted to be around for our reactions.
He turned when he was close to the curtain divide and met my eyes.
"Jag litar dig." I am trusting you. "Hon kommer fortfarande att vara oskyldig när jag återvänder." She will still be innocent when I return.
"Ja." Yes. I nodded as he left and turned to my beauty. Her eyes were on the bed and she had dropped her hand from my cheek and was playing with the sheets, twirling a loose thread around her fingers.
"How would you like me?" I moaned and she looked up from beneath her lashes at me. I shook my head at her curiosity. I wanted her in all ways. If she knew that then she I doubt she would have offered herself like that.
I sat up and pulled myself so I was leaning against the headboard. I wonder if I could get her to drink my blood at the same time?
"Will you take some of my blood at the same time?"
"How will that help you?" It wouldn't really, the exchange rate would mean I would get no new nourishment.
"Your right of course, maybe another time?" I pushed.
"Why?"
"So that I knew if you were in trouble and we could feel each other."
"Why would you want that?"
"Here lean against me." I patted the area between my thighs and she moved to lean against me.
"You didn't answer me."
"And I am not going to." She huffed at me. Then reached up and pushed her beautiful brown curls over her shoulder and tilted her head.
"You better not hurt me." She warned instead.
"Trust me, I would never hurt you if I could help it." I promised. "Now relax." I wrapped my arms around her and leaned in to run my nose down her neck as she relaxed against me. I nuzzled the area causing her to gasp and stiffen for a second before she melted into me. With a few slow kisses I could hear her heartbeat race. I smiled against her neck. With a quick lick I finally tasted her skin and could not stop the moan that erupted from my throat. Gods she tasted superb. Close to the honey she smelled like. Hermione's own moan graced my ears causing me to go from semi-hard to full and throbbing in seconds. I closed my eyes in bliss.
