"Pitiful. Never in my years have I ever witnessed such a pitiful display as what lays before my eyes. I am simply at a complete loss for action. How can I possibly react?" Godric's tone is panicked and disturbed completely by what is in front of him. And what is in front of him is Amie curled up on the coffee table in the livingroom, caked in filth, at only 3:31 A.M. with the appearance that she has been there for many hours.
"Send me a picture," Eric says in a monotone voice that implies that he is focused on Godric's words while also being focused on something else. That something else is the crowd of humans and vampires taking a break from their miserable lives at Fangtasia many, many miles away.
"What's wrong now?" Pam appears before Eric in her black leather dress showing every curve that is hidden and yet on display with her cold uncaring features turned into a slight smirk, "Someone tried to take your picture again?"
Eric simply waves her away as back in Dallas Godric looks at the photo of Amie with complete and other saddness. He presses the send button and puts the cell phone back to his ear waiting for Eric's advice but instead he gets a loud tangle of chuckles that are completely uncharacteristic of Eric and only cause Godric more fear, making him furiated. He hisses in the voice that creates action, "Enough of your laughter, Eric, this is a serious matter."
At once Eric's mouth shuts and the laughter is ceased. The action is so mechanical that it is obvious to Pam that from far away Eric's maker had given him a command that even he must obey. She says nothing but the smile on her face says it all, she is very amused. Eric sends her away and she drifts back to her post checking I.D.'s at the door, bitch work. Eric returns his eyes to the image of the little girl curled up into a dirt ball on the coffee table that, knowing Godric, must have cost a fortune. Even from the choppy photograph Eric can tell that she is beautiful and it is this beauty that is stopping Godric from taking to her the appropriate way. Eric responds, "Forgive me, father, but if you remove yourself from the situation you have to admit this is quite amusing. A two thousand year old vampire bested by his new child? It's comical."
"The reason for my call was not to inspire your drudgery with a boast of humor," Godric's voice holds none of the softness he began the call with. His voice is cold and demanding and authoritative, all things that fill Eric with a bitter chill he is used to but can't help but to find a new sense of jealousy. He doesn't speak to her this way, "I require your assistance in this matter regardless of how comical it may be, however, if this task proves to tryin-"
"No. Forgive my outburst, Godric, it was out of place. It will not happen again. It is obvious that you have to discipline the little one. This may be her first act of rebellion but you still have to prove who is leading and who is following. Granted this is as minor as rebeling gets, it still is no reason for a complete lack of action," Eric answers, finding it tiring that he must repeat to Godric what he himself had said when the roles were reversed. The night Pam had tied Eric in his coffin so that she may go out into the land and roam on her own Eric had called Godric with the same question and it was he who had suggested he hold her out into the sun for just three seconds so that she may understand what would happen to her if she were to leave on her own. How things have changed.
"What do you suggest my action consisit of?" Godric asks with his eyes unable to look away from Amie, still not stired in her forced slumber. Her hair falls in black and gold curls along her cheek-probably tickling her nose-as her chest falls up and down weakly-probably constricted by the dress she still wears. It's terrifying the sense of helplessness that consumes him in this situation, the mere fact he must inform Eric of his lack of control disgusts him. He remembers when he had forced Eric to make his child meet the sun, such a horrible pain so strong even Godric himself felt it reciprocated through his bond with Eric. How was he so ruthless? He could never imagine forcing Amie to do the same.
"Pull her over your knee and spank her like the child she insists on behaving like," Eric suggests carelessly, finding this the only mild form of punishment that Godric might accept. Godric doesn't speak and Eric can tell he is in wordless shock so he continues, "Godric, you have spoiled her rotten. This is the only course of action. Trust me, it works. Why else do you think Pam is so suddenly," at the mention of her name Pam peaks her little head in with a raised brow that suggests she heard Eric's comment and is interested in a new lesson, "obedient."
"No. Physical harm is out of the question," it was almost too hard for Godric to get this out of his mouth. With this reply it was an admitance to something Eric could hear and feel even through the distance of years that had seperated them.
Eric's eyes fall downward, away from the haze of people he must endure every night, to the memories of his times with Godric and how he would joyfully yank young girls, younger than Amie, from their beds at night to have his fun. It was obvious that Godric had been changing for years from that being to the one on the phone with him now. Eric could tell by the lack of enthusiasm for general life in Godric's voice from that phone call...that terrifying phone call not too long ago...that Godric was tired, very tired, and that frightened him. But he hoped with the trip and now with turning Amie he would return to himself completely, the old ruthless Godric that was so fun, but it was evident that he was still long gone. No physical harm, not even to teach a lesson. It was the admittance of the death of the old...but still...Eric had felt something stir inside of himself a feeling that he had never felt from Godric before. Maybe it was the death of the old Godric...but maybe it was the birth of a new, "Well then...What spawned this reaction?"
Silence. How could he possible explain to Eric in a way that would make him understand? Since the arrival of Amie, since the first time he had seen her, something had painfully changed inside of him. How could he explain this when he didn't understand it himself? How could he explain how painful it was to have her, how painful it was to feel for her, how painful it was for her to feel for him, and most importantly how painful it was to admit that? How could he explain to his son that this night-with all her tears and all her words-was too much for him?
"Godric," Eric's voice was strong, like a father forcing his son to admit the wrong he had done. Eric was not afraid to speak to his maker in this tone. Their relationship was a symbiotic one that allowed them to continually switch the roles of authority that were hardly used any longer.
"It began after my teaching of the Waltz in the courtyard, I had informed her of your existance. She immediantly grew terrible with jealousy and suggested that you were favored more than she. To which I explained that more or less does not exist amongst our kind and to which she battled that...she is frightened by the notion that our thousand year existance with one another will limit my ability to...care for her aswell. I responded that as a maker I will continually care for my children regardless of time or place and that is when she asked me...if I...if I cared for her more than a child. At that point I had grown tired of her questioning and told her so. I sent her to the library to catch up on the studies she has missed and when I came to find her...you have the picture," at the end of his explanation Godric felt very proud of himself for truly giving Eric the full truth about the situation without having to reveal the parts he was unable to reveal to himself-how Amie's body felt, so little and weak inside of his arms that promised to protect her; how Amie smelt in her closeness, her hair and her breath having the oddest scent of peaches while the rest of her body smelt like ocean waters; how soft her skin was pressed aaginst the little places that he did allow to touch; how he would have kissed her...how he might have done that.
"And do you?" the words came out with the invisible trail that Eric was unable to let continue on. And do you love her, more than a child? More than me? It had been years since he had been released from Godric, but still. It was in the way he explained the situation and it was in the way he was unable to say the word...the simple word that he used freely with Eric in times when death was certain or when they were spaired. He shouldn't feel this way, surely Godric had felt the same way when Eric had choosen to make Pam his child. Surely this is just childish insecurities that have no place in this world.
He got him. It was silly of Godric to think that Eric wouldn't understand what was laying beneath the words. For this instance he had underestimated their bond that was no doubt stronger than any other Maker/Child bond they had come across, second only to Eric's own bond with Pamela. While Godric felt joy in this second for their ability to still pick upon each other's hidden words...there was still the question to answer. And do you? Did he? What ever his answer was he knew that he could not lie to Eric. It would be foolish on his part and disrespectful to the progeny he cared so greatly for...but did? Eric was waiting on the other end for his answer, so unwillingly he did reply, "I don't know."
"Maybe you should explain this to her before you decide your next course of action. It is evident that she is in love with you and in this fragile state in her life denying her affection could prove harmful to both you and her. I advize against neglecting the situation occured, she proves willing to outlast in emotional endurace," there is an audible sigh from Godric's end that Eric chooses to ignore because of Pam's return. She cocks her head to the side and motions toward the front door to a man and a woman that appear to not stand out from the crowd of humans but upon closer inspection it is evident that around the woman's neck is a silver necklace that matches the silver bracelet around the man's wrist.
"Thank you, my Child," Godric says although this suggestion is not reassuring. The thought of admitting his affection to Amie and his inability to contain such affections was more painful than watching her cry...because in fact she just may cry because of what he may say.
"Any time, oh and one more thing," Eric says absent-mindedly as he sits up slightly with more interest in the couple than the conversation, "We never went dancing in the moonlight."
Silence.
Godric stood stone still with his eyes on Amie's form and his hand still position with the cell phone to his ear. Eric. He would get him back for that for it was that statement that said it all, that forced all of his actions into the light of his own eyes. They had never went dancing in the moonlight. He had never done many things for Eric that were now customary for little Amie. But that was his excuse. She was so little and fragile while Eric was strong and durable, he could take the beatings she was given with a laugh. If he disciplined her even a fraction of the ways he had disciplined Eric she would fall to pieces. He could not do that to her, even the thought was devistating. To imagine the pain she had endured her life and to image adding more to it, he could not bring himself to do raise even a finger of objection to her unless..
He couldn't bring himself to think about it. But with her he didn't have to think, he soley acted. Whether it was to console her or to control himself he was doing something that occupied the time he would need to think about or admit how he felt for her. The only thing he could admit to himself was the he did not want to see her harmed, he hated to see her cry, and yes, he did love to see her smile and to hear her laugh. But that was all. There was nothing more he could do for himself unless he wanted the reprocussions he was not willing to face.
Time.
It had always been his greatest enemy. Time uncovered all truths and sure enough time would reveal that Amie's affection was soley do to her commitment to her creator. But still...Eric's assurance rang in her ears: we never went dancing in the moonlight. Maybe that comment explained both situations..but it couldn't. That was just for Godric.
Enough.
Godric silenced his thoughts by looking back to poor Amie curled on the hard table. He was tempted to leave her there so she may feel succesful in her triumph but then he thought of the humans that came to clean and replenish the TruBlood and the dresses. They needed to open the door she laid in front of. He would not allow her to face the sun without any protection. So he stepped forward and lifted her into his arms, half expecting her to awaken but again there was nothing. Poor Amie, she weighed close to nothing-there was no strain on his arms. Her face was turned away and that brought him a little joy because at least her hair wouldn't bother her again. But she looked so beautiful sleeping, as she had when he had found her covered in blood. He was almost too late back then but somehow, by some miricle, she had been saved. He remembered watching her fight like the warriors that seemed to have died off with the inventions of guns that created cowards. He was so brave and so selfless, he had never seen anyone care so little for their own safety in battle and be so succesful when taking into consideration her tiny frame. He thought her grandfather was a great man to have taught her what he had but selfishly he was glad for his death. He knew if her grandfather were still alive he would have saved Amie before Godric could get to her and he was happy to have her now. Happy for once in his long life.
But that was enough thinking. He walked Amie to her room and thought it so strange how the night had begun and how the night had ended. He laid her on her bed, allowing her to continue to be filthy so she may feel satisfied that he did give in. He did not look at her after he let her down, instead he quickly left her and returned to his chambers. As he shut the iron curtain he knew that if he did stay, he would be too tempted to lay beside her and watch her slumber through out the entire day.
