A/N: If you saw an update for the story, but no chapter came up it was because there was a problem with the edits in the Doc Manager and I took the chapter down to fix it. Trust me, it was extremely frustrating for me too! As for the delay in updating, my job gets really hectic at the holidays. On the other hand, you now have a 18,000+ word chapter to peruse and hopefully enjoy. A special thanks goes out to Midnat, Melusine10 and Kittyinaz for being awesome with the plot bouncing and with occassionally talking me off the edge of insanity.
As always, I own only my imagination which does not include True Blood or (and I sob at this) Godric.
Makhaira- Greek word for an ancient sword. Also related to the word that means 'battle' or 'to fight'.
Chapter 9
Three years later...
"I don't want to go!" Alex snapped, and turned away to look out the window. She huddled in Godric's too-large grey leather jacket, but at the moment it brought her little comfort. It was just so unfair that they had to move just when she was so close to being done!
"Why do we have to move again?" she grumbled. She knew her family hated it when she acted like a human teenager, but she felt like the current situation justified it.
"Child," her father sighed while his dark, old eyes looked at her sternly from his desk. "You know why we must go. It is not safe to stay in any one place for long while we are as yet unaware of the identity of our foes. Not to mention the risk of people realizing we are never changing. You know this, have accepted it in the past, so why are you now discontent?"
She scowled down at her purple ballet flats and let her long red hair hide her expression. She couldn't tell him the real reason, and she struggled to come up with an excuse he would believe.
"I just really like this city," she finally muttered. "It's … nice."
Josiah snorted from his spot on the couch, his fingers rapidly flipping through a book. "Weren't you just complaining to me three nights ago that you hated Rio de Janeiro, little sister?"
She frowned at her brother's pale reflection in the window, and once again wondered why her dad couldn't have Turned at least one girl. Being the youngest with three older know-it-all brothers sucked. "I like the art class you made me take," she said, and mentally cringed. She shouldn't have mentioned the art class … what if they discovered her plan? She had somehow managed to hide her actions over the past year from her old-as-dirt family, and to fail within days of completing her Top Secret Mission made the hole that was constantly in her chest ache.
Being sneaky looked so much easier in the movies.
"Yeah, how's that coming?" Bennett asked as he vamp sped from one of the bedrooms, perfectly dressed for a night on the town, his shoulder length black hair in a neat ponytail. He had always been the trendiest of all her brothers, and the one most likely to have a new companion on his arm every night. "Any luck with learning to get along with little humans?"
She groaned, slumped against the floor to ceiling window of their penthouse living room, and buried her nose in the collar of her jacket. "No."
She wished she was still young enough that a hug and a peanut butter cookie could make everything better. She loved her family, but it was so hard being the only human in a family of vampires.
"Daughter," her dad said. "I know its hard, but you must learn how to blend in with other humans."
She felt hounded and even more stressed. "I know, okay?!" she snapped, unable to tell her dad her secret fear that something was wrong that only other humans could sense.
"Mind your attitude, child," her dad softly commanded. When he used that tone even her oldest brother leapt to obey.
"Sorry," she sighed, and wrapped her arms around herself. When everything had changed she had even asked their Dayman, George, if she smelled weird to humans, and he had laughed and said no. When she was little everything had been fine, but as soon as she hit puberty things had changed seemingly overnight. Most girls seemed okay, but even boys who had been her friend now shied away from her as if something made them uncomfortable.
During a ballroom dance class she had taken in St. Petersburg, one boy had finally blurted out that being around her made his skin crawl. She had been so embarrassed that she had hidden in the bathroom until George had come to get her. Thankfully whatever was wrong with her didn't seem to bother either George or his husband Brian, since they were the ones who took care of her during the day. She had never told her family, since she was sure her brothers would unmercifully tease her. Maybe if she had been able to still talk to Godric she would have told him since she knew he would understand, and wouldn't make fun of her.
At least vampires didn't seem to mind her, she would be heartbroken if her vampire couldn't stand to be around her. The very idea of it made something in her chest ache.
Reflected movement in the window caught her attention, and she turned towards Josiah, whose arms were held open in invitation. Gratefully, she hurried over and crawled onto his lap. Ever since Dallas he had been the one she had gone to the most for comfort. She curled up against him and breathed in his scent that reminded her at least a little of him. Both smelled of falling leaves, although he smelled of autumn nights under towering oak trees curled up next to a crackling fire. Hot, soothing, and a light in the darkness that promised protection and comfort.
Josiah ran his hand over her red hair. He had a suspicion why she so often turned to him for comfort, but saw little need to tell his siblings. Although, he sometimes wondered if his Maker knew since very little escaped the Ancient. His little sister had never really been the same since Dallas, and he felt helpless to ease the pain of growing up. He had the vague suspicion that she was keeping something from them, but nobody could be more obstinate than his little sister. She would tell them when she was ready. "Don't cry, Alex."
"I'm not crying," she whispered, and clenched her eyes shut to keep the tears from falling. She refused to cry. Tears hadn't helped three years ago when her dad told her that it was too dangerous for her to talk with her vampire again. She shuddered, and curled further into her favorite brother. Even the memory of that time hurt.
"I'm sure it will get better," Josiah said, and was glad that she was still young enough to let him hold her. "Humans always fear what is different. Perhaps we can stay longer in our next nest, and you will have more opportunities to make friends. To learn how to be human."
She frowned and twisted to sit on the couch so that she was cuddled against his side. "Why don't they have The Code of Behavior like Supernaturals do?" she complained for probably the three billionth time. "It would make all this so much easier. Humans don't make any sense!"
Gabriel sighed from his place slouched in front of the tv, bored. He was the oldest of her brothers and had the shortest temper when dealing with what he called her 'human foolishness'. "We've already told you why. Humans, while perfectly capable of killing each other in inventive ways, lack the instincts that drive them to instinctually fight each other. Without these Codes we would have all killed each other long ago, or been discovered. Humans are stupid and oblivious, but not that stupid."
She scowled at her most irritating brother, but before she could say something, her dad interrupted.
"Enough."
The command rang through the room and while Alex wanted to grumble she also really didn't want to run extra laps tomorrow during training.
Her mind frantically tried to come up with a plan, but she tried to relax and control her speeding pulse. "When do we leave?" She was almost done, and it had taken her nearly a year of questionable shuffling through her father's papers to find the address she needed.
"Unfortunately, we must wait after the ball tomorrow eve as to not attend would be a grave offense to the King."
"Halloween," she muttered. She had two days, and with a little luck she could get it done tonight, and then mail it tomorrow. This was perfect since by the time he got her gift, they would already have left Rio. If those crazy Werewolves were still looking for them by sifting through the piles of mail she was sure the Dallas nest received, they would find an empty return address. She was so pleased with herself that she almost grinned, but managed to keep her smug congratulations to herself.
Her dad shook his head and tsked. "Samhain has gone by many names daughter, but the current incarnation of one where children dress up and demand candy is a desecration of what was once a sacred and noble event. It is still a time when magic, and many Supernaturals, tend to run wild so it is best for young girls such as yourself to remain safely indoors."
Alex hid her face against Josiah's side and rolled her eyes. She was a teenager now, which meant she was an adult and could take care of herself. Well, sort of an adult. She frowned, deep in thought. Okay, she was at least more of an adult than a silly kid. It just wasn't fair that even if she lived to be a hundred she would still be considered a child in her family's eyes.
She had begged for years and years to go with them to the parties her nest seemed to always be invited to. Every time her dad had said no, that she had to stay home until she knew The Code for dealing each race. Without those ritual ways of addressing each other, tempers would flare out of control and there would be another war like the Five Century War that her dad and Gabriel had both fought in.
She sighed, and moved away from her brother to slump against the arm of the couch. If she thought her dad would understand the symbolism she would tape yards of bubble wrap around her body, since he seemed intent on never letting her have any fun. Or even acknowledging that she wasn't a baby anymore. Her glance met Gabriel's suspicious one from the next couch, and she realized that her response was not at all usual for the moody teenager her father said she was becoming.
She quickly put on her best pout. "Dad, can I go to the party? Please? I'm not a kid anymore, and I've almost finished memorizing The Codes. I haven't made a mistake in practice for weeks now." She made sure to put just the correct amount of whine in her words to irritate even his centuries old calm. He hated that tone, and it was practically a one-way ticket to a night of boredom in their hotel suite.
Bingo! She felt like doing a victory dance when she saw her dad grimace. Who knew that sensitive vampire ears hated that tone of voice? Learning that little fact had practically been a goldmine of getting out of boring learning experiences that her dad felt she needed. Most of the time, anyway. It sure was really hard to fool a vampire, other human kids had it so easy!
Theron sighed, and wished his daughter would hurry up and grow into the wonderful adult woman he was sure she was capable of becoming, even if it meant losing her to her vampire Mate. Some days being the father of a teenage girl was worse than Turning and raising all of his male progeny. He snorted at the thought. The gods only knew how much trouble his children, along with the Gaul's Viking, had managed to get into over the centuries. He was frankly surprised Morocco had ever recovered.
"Daughter, such places are not for those of your tender years, and this is not the sort of ball you should frequent until you are much older. As for your practice, you still have much to learn before I will allow you to deal with those outside of my closest circle of acquaintances." Theron smiled softly at his disappointed human child, who was so determined to grow up and experience the world around her. It seemed just yesterday she was a toddler racing after her brothers on unsteady legs, and the idea of sending his fragile, mortal baby girl into the lion's den of Supernatural politics was less than pleasing.
"The real world is a harsh and unforgiving place, and you are no longer young enough for ignorance to be overlooked. You are not yet ready to deal with the different races, child, and I will not endanger you just to slake your boredom. You will spend tomorrow night studying your human school subjects in our nest, and after we return we will begin the journey to our new domicile in Finland where we will continue with your Supernatural lessons and training."
She sulked, even as she internally cheered that she would be left alone while her family was otherwise occupied. She guiltily ignored her brother Josiah's eyes and hoped that they would leave soon so she could slip out.
She snuck a look at the clock and winced. If they didn't leave soon there would be no way she would make it to the art center before it closed. She sat down at the table and attempted to look studious and very intent on her homework. Which, considering geometry was currently her arch nemesis, was difficult. Why did she actually need to know how to find the area of a square? Stupid math …
It took almost the full hour before they left to pursue their own entertainments, and since George and Brian were otherwise occupied getting ready for their household's move, she would be alone for much of the night. Her dad had finally started to trust her to be alone for short periods in the nest several months ago, but she ignored the small flutterings of guilt in her stomach. Gleefully, she waited until they had reached their cars before she dashed for the elevator.
"C'mon, c'mon, hurry up," she chanted, and bounced from one foot to the other. Finally it arrived, and with a huff she entered the elevator and pressed for the basement. Her dad would be even angrier if he knew she was utilizing her training to escape the castle fortress, a.k.a. their posh apartment penthouse, but if she left through the front entryway he would be notified immediately. Ever since her first little escape attempt when she was eleven he had made sure to glamour all the staff to be foot soldiers in his war of making sure she never had any fun.
She grinned and gave a thumbs up to her reflection in the shiny elevator door as she hummed the Mission: Impossible theme song. She felt daring and adventurous, just like her favorite comic book heroes. She practiced a quick punch and kick combo, struck a heroic pose, and smirked. Yeah, she could definitely take care of herself!
She sauntered out into the basement and stealthily moved towards the kitchens. Thankfully, she had overheard one of the waiters at the downstairs restaurant yesterday complain about the broken alarm at the service entrance, and she grinned when she saw the warning sign on the door.
With silent steps she dashed towards the door and out into the chilly night air. Several blocks away she stopped and nervously hailed a taxi for the first time on her very own. The Art Center was several miles away, and she just had to get there before they closed for the night! Her chest throbbed, and she rubbed it as she scrambled into the car, and barely glanced up as she gave directions to the golden eyed driver. Her dad had told her to be patient, but she refused to believe she would have to wait for five more years to talk with her vampire.
She had a full proof plan, so what could go wrong?
There had been a surprising number of people still working on their projects, and she had been relieved when the bored receptionist said the studios would stay open several more hours for students to complete their entries for the upcoming exhibition. She hated Rio, but she kind of wished she could be there for the art festival. Although her dad probably wouldn't let her go anyway because it could be 'dangerous'. She was human, not a china doll, and he had taught her how to fight so she didn't see the problem. She had managed to get here okay, hadn't she?
With several more light taps of the hammer she sat back and ran the polishing cloth over her finished piece. When she had seen the ad for the beginner metal working class she had known immediately what she would make…and who she would send it to. It had taken her several attempts, and almost all of her allowance on extra material to get it good enough to be worthy of her vampire, but now she was done.
With trembling fingers she stroked over the circle, and smiled at her memories from long ago. Gently, her fingers traced over the edges and she wondered if he would like it … and if he would realize who had sent it to him.
"Interesting," her teacher murmured. "Very American. What made you choose tin instead of silver?"
Her fingers protectively curled around her finished project. "They used to call them 'tin stars' back then, and he likes history. Plus he's allergic to silver."
"Hmm," the teacher hummed. "Still, it is well done, especially for a first try. He must mean a lot to you to spend so much time on such a trinket. Bravo!" The teacher awkwardly went to pat her shoulder, but his hand froze midair and instead he jerkily nodded and hurriedly moved on to the next student.
She ignored the typical response, and ran her fingers over the small badge. Carefully she traced the outer circle of metal that surrounded the five-pointed star. Carefully stamped in the center of the star were the words 'Sheriff Godric of Texas'. She had modeled the badge after one of the more ornate ones from the history books, and the shiny piece was carefully etched with subtle filigree that had been more difficult then she had expected. It was every-so-slightly lopsided, but she thought it still looked great. She smiled when she thought of her vampire opening up the gift she had worked so hard on. She remembered being so surprised that he didn't have his own badge like her bear.
"Very cool!"
The loud voice behind her made her jump, and she twisted around to see a blond haired boy a year or two older than her peering intently over her shoulder. What was his name? Mitch … Max … no, Marco. He was one of the only boys in the class that sometimes tried to talk to her, although each time he stuttered, turned red, and quickly fled. It surprised her that he kept at it, considering every other boy now kept several desks between their own and hers.
"Um, thanks." She carefully wrapped a soft cloth around the badge, and placed it in her jacket pocket. She didn't like other people looking at it, and she really didn't want to answer questions about why she had made what looked like a silly toy when everyone else had worked on more sophisticated projects.
"You're Alexandra, right? I'm Marco," he said, and blushed bright red when his voice cracked. He shifted nervously on his feet like he wanted to run away, but obviously forced himself to relax.
She smiled, and bit her lip to not laugh at how silly he sounded. At least he had finally managed to actually talk to her. "Yeah, but call me Alex. Alexandra makes me think I'm in trouble."
"Sure!" he grinned in relief, and shoved his hands into his pockets. He glanced behind her at the other students and loudly spoke. "So, is it true that you've lived all over the world?"
She shifted and fiddled with some tools on her table, but finally shrugged. "Yeah, dad travels a lot for business and he doesn't like to leave me behind, especially since my brothers go with him too."
"Neat!" He seemed unsure of what to say next as she stared at him, and he rather desperately glanced behind her again. Why did he keep looking at his friends? "Um, a bunch of us are about to go across the street and pick up Halloween costumes for tomorrow. Do you want to come?"
"I didn't think you celebrated Halloween here," she stalled as she weighed her options. He was really inviting her to hang out with him and his friends?
"We don't really do the trick-or-treating thing, but there are some big parties. Ernesto's dad is American and a big time CEO, and is throwing a huge one. There's gonna be candy, and Ernie told us he would show us how American kids celebrate!"
Alex tried to think of how she could possibly do this and not get into trouble. She already felt guilty at lying to her dad, but … but for the first time a human her own age actually asked her to hang out. Plus wasn't there supposed to be candy at Halloween? Chocolate candy?
"C'mon, Alex, it'll be great! Your brothers always pick you up as soon as the class is over. Do you have a costume? You can come with us now across the street and get one."
She really wanted to go … and her dad did say he wanted her to have more human experiences. Plus there would be chocolate, which she was rarely allowed. The idea of candy, dressing up, and going on an adventure quieted the nervous fluttering in her stomach. "Okay."
Marco excitedly grabbed her hand, and although he winced, he didn't let go. With quick steps he pulled her towards the group. "C'mon guys! The costume store is only open for another half hour, and our parents will be here soon!"
For a moment, the others stared at them before one of the boys swallowed heavily and nodded. Everyone was really quiet as they left the building, and there was a wide open space around Alex and Marco. The boys stared in shock at Marco who seemed to grow paler as sweat beaded on his forehead.
Alex awkwardly coughed, and looked at one of the girls. "Um, I like your shoes. They're really pretty." It was lame, but the girl seemed pleased.
"Yes they are. Your shirt isn't half bad, and the dark blue looks good with your red hair. You don't have freckles, so do you dye it? It's really long."
Alex nervously fingered a lock of hair that went to the middle of her back. "Thank you. It's always been this color though. Um, my dad says that until I'm fifteen I'm not allowed to dye my hair or do anything else drastic like cut it off. I wanted purple highlights last year and he looked at me like I was crazy." Alex shifted, and carefully removed her hand from Marco's. His palm was all sweaty, and it felt oddly warm compared to what she was used to. Something about his scent was also weird, and she wished he wouldn't stand so close.
She looked at the other girls, and mentally thanked her dad for making sure she wore what was fashionable for girls her age in this country. Although, and she had always rolled her eyes at this, he had lectured her continually on how important it was to blend in.
Huh, maybe her dad wasn't as old and out of touch with humans as she had thought. She was happily surprised when the girl actually continued to talk to her.
"So you've lived all sorts of places? You speak our language pretty well, how many others do you know?" the girl asked, and noisily chomped open-mouthed on her gum.
Alex tried not to wince at the disgusting sight. "Um, five fluently, and I know two others enough to get myself in trouble." Gods above, she needed to stop babbling, they probably thought she was really stupid. She blinked, startled, when the girl blew a noisy bubble.
"What was your favorite place? Oh, and I'm Rosie by the way."
Alex smiled shyly. "Dallas, Texas in the United States. I loved it there."
"Really? How come?"
Alex blushed bright red as all thoughts of being cool and composed fled. Her hand slid into her jacket pocket, and she felt a small surge of confidence break through her nerves when she fiddled with the sheriff's badge.
"Oooh, was there a boy there?" Rosie squealed, and suddenly the other girls pressed closer. "Was he hot? Older? Do you still talk to him? Do you have a picture? Is he as cute as your brothers?"
Alex stared cluelessly, confused on why they were suddenly so excited. Well, at least they were talking to her, even if most of the boys stayed as far away from her as possible. Even Marco looked relieved to be jostled to the side. Still, she didn't want to talk about Godric as her chest always hurt worse when she did, and she got so angry at how unfair it was. Whatever he was to her was something she was still figuring out, something so big and important and confusing that trying to give words to it was impossible.
"Yeah. He's, um, a little older than me. I haven't seen him in awhile though," she added hurriedly to stop any further questions. She missed him so much, and she couldn't wait to send him his gift. He had to love it, right?
Alex breathed a sigh of relief when they finally got to the costume store. She looked around curiously at the colorful costumes, and snickered when Marco held up a pair of plastic fangs.
He seemed to hesitate, before he smiled. "Cheesy, I know, but it's fun. What do you want to go as? You're pale enough to be a vampire, we could go as the same thing," he added hopefully.
She wrinkled her nose. "Nah."
Marco puffed out his chest. "Are you scared of vampires? I'll protect you!"
She bit her tongue so hard it made her eyes water. Him … protect her? From vampires? A newborn could easily beat even the strongest of humans, and from the way he moved she really doubted he actually knew how to fight. Of course, the silly boy didn't actually know that vampires existed.
Suddenly her gaze fell upon a display, and her face lit. Wicked was her favorite musical and she ran her fingers longingly over the black dress. Her dad and brothers had always warned her that witches were not to be trusted, but she had always wanted to dress up like Elphaba. She had always liked her, since she knew what it was to be the different one in a family. Too bad she didn't have any powers though, and was just a plain human.
She grabbed the black hat and robe, as well as a tube of green face paint. She mentally thanked the gods that her father and brothers didn't barge into her room ever since she was twelve, and there had been the 'incident' with her somehow getting stuck in one of her new bras. Who knew those things were so hard to get in and out of? She hadn't wanted them to see her half-dressed, and her dad had had to glamour a female to come in to rescue her, as well as to explain the differences in types of bras and how to wear them. It had been humiliating. She knew her family could hear everything the woman said, along with her own awkward questions, and she had barely been able to look them in the eyes for days.
After everyone paid, Alex glanced down at her watch in panic. "Oh no, I have to go! When and where are we meeting tomorrow?"
Rosie shot a look at the others, who all either shrugged or nodded. "At Ernie's house in the Leblon district next to the ocean. It's number 6 on the street. Will your brothers bring you?"
"No, they're going to be busy," Alex answered, confused.
Obviously disappointed, Rosie nodded, and went back to playing with her phone.
Alex startled when a trembling hand caught her arm, and barely managed to not throw Marco over her shoulder.
"Yes?" She edged away from him, since he was still pale and sweating. Was he sick?
"Um …" he shifted his feet, and ran his hand through his shaggy blond hair. He looked rather desperately over at his friends, and stood up straight. "Um … so this guy in Texas … you haven't seen him for awhile?"
She frowned at him. Why did he want to know about Godric? "No, it's been a few years. Why?"
He smiled and glanced over again at the other boys. "No reason. I, um, really can't wait to hang out with you tomorrow. You will come, right?" His hazel eyes were hopeful as they stared at her.
She felt uneasy, like she was missing something really evident. "Yeah, I'll have to sneak out, but it should be okay." They stared at each other for a moment and she finally coughed awkwardly, aware that the other kids were giggling. Well, the girls were giggling while the boys just stared. "Uh, I need to go home now, okay?"
He hurriedly nodded and shoved his hands into his jean pockets. "Yeah, cool. See you tomorrow Alex!"
She waived and dashed off back to the hotel. Her family should still be out for a few more hours but she would need time to stash her costume. She wished she could ask George about what had just happened with Marco, but if their Dayman knew she had snuck out he would definitely tell her dad.
Batman never had these problems, she grumbled to herself and ran faster. She still had a bedtime like some little kid, and if her dad got home and she wasn't asleep she would be in real trouble. She doubted Alfred, who was sort of like Bruce Wayne's dad, ever made Batman go to bed early.
The cab pulled up to the only villa on the block fully decorated with tombstones, skeletons, and spider webs. The villa was lit with carved pumpkins in each window, music blared, and the guests spilled out onto the lawn.
The odd, golden eyes of the female cabbie met hers in the rearview mirror. "Are you sure about this, little one? The streets of Rio can be dangerous late at night, even in such a high-class area. Do you have a way to get home after the party?"
Alex blinked, torn from her nervous thoughts about how to blend in with humans. "I'll be fine, thanks. What do I owe you?"
The cabbie sighed, and grudgingly told her the amount. "Kid, if you need a ride after this call this number and ask for Amaryanda. I will come pick you up, okay?"
Alex reluctantly pocketed the business card as she handed over the last of her extra spending money. Her dad gave her her small allowance in three month blocks so that she would learn 'monetary wisdom and budgeting'. She had scraped together every penny for months, and she had just enough left in a zippered inner pocket to mail her gift. She wasn't exactly sure how she was going to get home since she couldn't afford another cab ride, but she supposed she would figure it out later.
"Lexi!"
She ignored the loud shout, and walked towards the very large house.
"Lexi!"
Alex stared when a breathless Marco dressed as a rather cheesy vampire with a cape ran up to her.
"Didn't you hear me?" he gasped.
She shook her head. "No."
He smiled, and looked down at his shuffling feet. "Um, well. I thought that 'Lexi' could be a cute nickname for me to call you." He saw the look on her face and furiously backpedaled. "I mean, um, if you don't mind?"
Did humans randomly name their new friends without their permission? Was this some sort of weird adolescent human bonding ritual? Would it be weird if she told him that she really disliked being called anything other than Alex? Okay, so she really liked 'little firefly' but only Godric could call her that! Just like he was Mr. Sheriff Sir. The one time Gabriel tried to tease her about that, she had pitched such a fit that she had been grounded for two weeks. This boy wasn't even a nest mate, so why would he think he could rename her?
Marco sulked, and his shoulders sagged. "You don't like it."
"Oh!" she said, and fiddled with the sleeve hem of her black dress. "It's, uh, not that. Um, my family comes from …" she stared at his vampire outfit before a light bulb went off in her head. "… ah, Romania, and nicknames are only used amongst family members," she fibbed.
"Oh."
He looked so miserable that she took pity on him, although she really didn't like the name. At least it would only be for one night. "I guess you can call me that if you want."
The boy immediately brightened, and she congratulated herself on apparently passing Human Teenage Interactions 101.
The warm, and damp, hand that tried to slip into her own made her jump. It wasn't hot out, so why was he so sweaty? Did he have some weird human affliction? If touching her made him feel so bad, then why did he continue to do it?
Marco beamed, even as he took very steady, deep breaths. "The others are waiting for us, and Ernie has everything we need. He said that if we go a few streets over there's a super creepy house. He even has toilet paper!" he whispered conspiratorially.
She frowned as he pulled her along through the crowds of humans dressed up as all sorts of fantastical creatures and monsters. Toilet paper?
They finally broke through the last hedge in the garden, and Alex struggled to fix her pointed hat. The green face paint was already getting itchy, and so far the evening hadn't exactly been exciting or filled with yummy chocolate. Not to mention she still had to drop the package at the post office drop box by midnight.
"Finally! We weren't sure if you were coming or not," Ernie said, and seemed to glare at Marco. "We only have so long before my parents check on us, so we have to hurry!"
"I'm sorry," Alex apologized and fell into step with the others. "My dad and brothers were going out tonight and they took forever in front of the mirror! I swear, Bennet primps more than a girl!"
Rosie perked up. "He's your brother with the shoulder-length dark hair?" she asked dreamily, and the other girls sighed in unison. It was rather creepy.
Alex shifted slightly away from them. Uh oh. "Yeah."
"Oh my god, he's so hot!" one of the other girls squealed. "Could you introduce him to us? We saw him come to the school last week to pick you up, and he's gorgeous!"
Alex was starting to get a funny feeling on why these girls were suddenly being nice to her. It hurt her feelings, but she refused to let them see that.
"I would," she lied, "but we're moving again tomorrow as Dad needs to go check on another branch of his business."
Marco tensed, then flung an arm over her shoulder and smirked at the other boys. "So Lexi, tonight is your last night then? We'll make sure you have a ton of fun to remember Rio by!"
Alex walked quickly through the dark streets and tried to remember how to get back to her hotel. How could everything have gone bad so quickly? Her lips trembled, as she wiped hard at her mouth and walked faster. This area of town scared her, the buildings closer together and more run down. She wanted to run, but her dad had always said that running attracted more attention from predators, so instead she forced herself to walk quickly. She couldn't believe they had just left her there, and the things Marco had said…
She shuddered in the cold, and briskly rubbed her arms. She was scared, and it was so much easier to be brave back at the warm nest. She wished she had a knife, but her dad kept them locked up when she wasn't training. Even when she had complained that she was good enough to be trusted with one, he hadn't budged.
The buildings appeared to lean down towards her, their dirty windows and graffiti painted bricks making her heart thump faster.
"Batman wouldn't be afraid," she muttered to herself, even as her feet seemed to move faster on their own. "I'm not scared, I'm not!" She could do this. Her dad had trained her to fight, and she could totally kick anybody's butt who tried to mess with her!
She was just crossing in front of a dark alley when a soft noise made her freeze. "H-hello?" Her only answer was ominous silence, and she could have hit herself for saying anything. What if it caught someone's attention? She strained her eyes, but the alley was too dark to see into. She had just convinced herself she had imagined it, when a yowl and loud rattling split the air.
Alex grinned and relaxed as an orange cat raced out of alley so fast it's legs were a blur. "It was just a stupid cat!" she giggled in relief. Maybe Josiah was right and she really needed to cut down on the zombie movies …
She turned to continue on her way, but her entire body went taut as a scratching noise, like a single claw moving slowly across uneven bricks, whispered out of the dark alley. Her body trembled as every hair on her arms rose, and her fear skyrocketed. Did the night seem even colder than it did before? Her breath frosted the air in front of her in short, quick puffs.
Her voice trembled. "Here, kitty kitty," she whispered hopefully. Maybe the orange cat had had a friend?
Another scraaatch, this one almost mockingly slow, slithered insidiously out of the darkness, and she shuddered. Her mind flashed back to the cat, and just how fast it had run out of the alley. Oh gods above, there was something else in there, and she really, really doubted it was another cat.
She took a deep breath, and slipped her shaking hand into her pocket. The round badge was a comforting weight as she clung to the image of thundercloud grey eyes, and the feeling of warm power wrapped snugly around her. Slowly, she began to edge away. Don't run. Don't. Run. She could do this, she wasn't afraid. She wasn't.
She gasped and froze, eyes wide, as the alley appeared to somehow expand, even while the shadows melded into something darker, and more solid. The air turned so cold she couldn't feel her fingers or toes.
"Here, kitty kitty," mocked a soft, sibilant voice that floated on the icy air. "Here." Scratch. "Kitty." Scraatch. "Kitty." Scraaaaatch.
She was too scared to move, too scared to do anything other than stare into the alley.
Cold laughter hissed through the air, and the voice whispered tenderly, "Delicious." Scraaatch. "Delicious, child." Scraaatch. "Tender child." Scraaatch. "Special child," it cooed in a high-pitched voice. Scraaaaatch.
Her heart pounded in mind-numbing fear, and her body refused to move. A blur of orange ran at her, and she cried out when sharp claws sliced across her shins. It was the orange cat from before, and it glared up at her and hissed as it slashed at her again.
The pain broke her trance, and she turned and fled as fast as her feet could take her. She didn't know which direction she ran, only that it was away from whatever was in that alley. The enraged roar that shattered the air behind her gave her feet wings and she raced across the broken pavement.
Within a block she had entered another District, this one slightly better than the last. She saw lights on in a house, and dashed towards it. She didn't care who, or what, lived there, only that they could help her. Was that thing, that Shadow Monster, chasing her? She didn't know, but she really really hoped that it couldn't cross a threshold.
She tripped up to the porch stairs, her witches hat hanging nearly sidewise and her green face pant smeared from tears and sweat. "Help me!" she cried, and pounded on the door. "Please! Let me in!"
The door opened and she scrambled through before the startled woman could say anything. She hit the slick floor, skidded across the hallway, and tumbled into the main living area of the house where she collapsed to her hands and knees.
"Thank you!" she gasped. "Thank you so much! Something bad was chasing me, and I thought I was a goner!"
There was no answer, and she suddenly realized that the dark wood floor under her hands was covered in silvery chalk designs. Slowly, her eyes traced the loops and curves as she lifted her head and raised shocked eyes to the two dozen men and women who stared at her in various degrees of distaste and surprise.
Alex's eyes widened, and she staggered to her feet excitedly. "Are you witches? My dad's told me all about you!"
"Hey! Let me go!" Alex shouted, and tried to twist herself free of whatever invisible power held her in its grip several feet off the floor.
"You are no normal human. Only those touched by the Supernatural, and having no ill intentions, could have entered into the ritual room."
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just a girl! Look, there was this thing chasing me and-"
A short, dark-haired male dressed in what looked like a weird toga snorted. "Our wards are at their strongest, nothing can get through them. If you were 'just a girl' then how did you know to name us witches? You are no Were, or other Supernatural being."
Even though she was relieved that she wasn't going to become some Shadow Monster's snack, she was still a teenager, and one that had had a rather bad night. "Disney, haven't you ever seen Mickey in Fantasia?"
The male nodded towards someone behind her, and she cried out when the power squeezed. "Ow! Stop it!"
"We will stop when you tell us the truth," he said coldly. "You mentioned something was chasing you? It would be a pity if we tossed you back outside where the wards on the property could not protect you."
Her eyes darted to the outside door, and she shuddered at the idea of being near whatever that thing was again. "M-my dad is a vampire."
There was a moment of silence, and then the two dozen male and female witches began to point and shout.
"Silence," the man said, and instantly there was quiet. "Vampires," he spat. "So you're a filthy spy then. Are you dressed so offensively to mock us on our holiest of nights?" He glanced at a another witch. "Valeria, wipe that disgusting paint off her face."
Her eyes went wide, "No! I'm not a spy! I was running away from that monster and yours was the only house with their lights on!" She flinched when a mousy looking woman roughly rubbed at her face and neck with a damp cloth. "Hey, be careful, that's my face you're scrubbing off!" She knew she should stay calm and not antagonize them, but after everything that had happened this last indignity was just too much.
The witch ignored her, but when the cloth moved over her neck she gasped and turned towards the man. "Sebastion! We can't keep her here, what if they come for her?"
Alex grimaced as whatever power was squeezing her tightened yet again, and this time she hadn't even done anything! "Yes, I would be really missed. A lot!" Her mind finally started thinking, and she could have smacked herself. What were The Codes for someone part of a vampire nest for dealing with witches? Her mind was completely blank, and panic began to fester in her stomach.
"I doubt the girl's companions are strong enough to bother us," Sebastion said dismissively.
Alex glared, affronted by the insult to her family. She opened her mouth to tell them exactly who her dad was, when the fact that she had snuck out only to fall into the clutches of the vampire's mortal enemies crossed her mind. Well, that and her dad's probable reaction. Oh dear gods above, he was going to kill her. Or worse, make her run laps and do push-ups for hours and hours and hours!
"Search her pockets. I want to make sure she doesn't have some fanger weapon on her," Sebastian ordered.
When one of the witches reached into her pocket and pulled out the badge, she began to once again struggle. "No! That's mine! Give it back!"
The witch had gone so pale that even her lips were white. "S-Sebastion!" she choked out, and thrust the small trinket towards the male.
He stared at the item in shock, and for the first time seemed afraid. "H-how do you know Death?" he demanded. The watching coven flinched, and began to mutter nervously to each other.
Alex was perplexed. "Who?"
His dark eyes flashed as he glared hotly down at her, his anger overcoming his fear. "The Gaul, foolish girl! The corpse that even his own despicable kind fear!"
Her eyes narrowed, and the temper her dad had tried so hard to teach her to control ignited. "Don't you call him those nasty names! He's Godric and he's … he's…" Her voice hitched and trailed off as she struggled to find the words to explain what she felt when she thought of her vampire. He was calm grey eyes that quieted her fear and pain, and a soft purr that soothed and protected. He was her sword wielding protector that slayed monsters, and a dark power that wrapped around her like a warm blanket. He was quiet times out by their pond under a starlit sky, and a night blooming flower forever preserved in a beloved book. How could she ever explain everything he was to her, had been to her since she was just five years old, when she did not understand it herself? He was safety, warmth, and comfort … he was … he was …
Her eyes welled with tears and she bit her lip as everything hit her at once. She wanted Godric to be here with her, wanted it so badly that the ache in chest throbbed and pulsed stronger than ever, before a wave of exhaustion crashed down on her and she hung weakly in whatever power held her. No witch would dare hurt her with him nearby.
The world suddenly seemed so much bigger and scarier, and she realized just how small she really was. She wished she had never snuck out. Her dad was right, she wasn't ready to deal with other Supernaturals, and now they were going to hurt her and she would never see her family to tell them how sorry she was. She would never see Godric to tell him … tell him … Her chest throbbed stronger than ever, and her eyes clenched shut.
"Who are you to the Gaul, idiot girl?" Sebastion shouted.
Something moved within her, and she felt a wave of cold strength sweep through her that cleared the cobwebs from her brain. She opened her eyes, and tried to look as dignified as possible in her wilted costume. "I am Alexandra, adopted human daughter of Theron, head of the Makhaira Vampiric Bloodline. Godric of Gaul has a-" she stumbled for a moment as she tried to remember some connection that would make the witches think twice on harming her. "-has a Blood Alliance with the Makhaira line."
She glared at the gobsmacked witches, and couldn't help but add, "And he's gonna be super duper pissed when he finds out you were mean to me!"
"What is the meaning of this?" a cool feminine voice called from the doorway and Alex stared at the white-haired woman dressed in darkest blue with piercing green eyes. Although very old, she still walked proudly upright as the other witches hurriedly stepped out of her way. The hair on her arms rose, and somehow Alex could feel that this witch was stronger than all the others, and her fear increased ten fold. The ache in her chest spiked, and she blindly felt like she was stretching and searching for something just out of reach.
"Priestess," Sebastion said with a deep bow. "We caught this spy, and have her here for questioning.
Alex's mouth dropped open in outrage. "You're a big liar! I told you who I am, and I even remembered the right words too." The power suddenly released her and she tumbled to the ground, only to spring to her feet and put her hands on her hips. "This is just an accident, I didn't mean to bother anybody. It's Halloween, I mean Samhain, and I got invited out by some … friends. I was on my way home when I ran across something scary, and yours was the only house with a light on! I didn't even know that this was your coven's nest!"
Sebastion sneered. "We are not filthy vampires to live in a nest, you foolish girl."
Alex was momentarily distracted, she always did like learning new things. As long as it wasn't math. "Oh. Um … what is it you live in then?"
The man rolled his eyes. "Enclaves!"
"While your search for knowledge is commendable," the Priestess said dryly, "I do wish to clear this up in time to complete the midnight rituals. Where are your friends to substantiate your story? I doubt they would let you wander alone through this area of the city." The old woman raised a single eyebrow, and made an obvious show of looking around.
Alex frowned down at the tips of her converse sneakers. There was no way she was going to further embarrass herself by telling these witches everything that had happened. They would probably laugh at her, and she was humiliated enough for one night. She had been so surprised when the seemingly nice, if clingy, boy had turned nasty. At least with Supernaturals she knew they were dangerous as they made no attempt to pretend otherwise.
"I am speaking to you, child, and it is polite to respond." The woman's tone was glacial, and Alex wanted Godric again so badly that it was a sharp ache in her chest.
Alex bit her lip but raised her chin stubbornly as she met the witch's bright green eyes. "It's none of your business, and I want my badge back. I worked really hard on it, and it's not for you. I told you who I am, and if you ignore it my family will bring war down upon you. It's in The Codes," she stressed.
Why weren't they following the rules that her dad had forced her to learn? What was the point in learning it if they were going to just hurt her anyway? If this turned out to be as useless as geometry in the real world, she was gonna be so pissed at her dad.
The old woman shook her head. "I only have to follow The Codes if what you say is true…or if I think I will be caught ignoring them. This is a truth that you must learn if you wish to survive in our community." The woman paused as she ran her eyes over the girl, and her gaze lingered on the shimmering marks on her throat and wrists. She had been upstairs when she had felt a wave of something, some odd power that managed to slip through the wards, and had hurried downstairs to determine it's root.
"Priestess!" Sebastion implored.
"Silence." She waived a hand and a small bubble enclosed the two of them, and hid their words off from the the others in the room. "If this girl is telling the truth we cannot harm her. It would bring about a war the likes of which our kind could not survive. No vampire would tolerate one such as her being killed."
"She's a Fated Mate! Killing her will keep whatever vampire the gods have decided to bless away from the power of her blood. Nobody has to know."
The old woman shook her head in distaste. "Sebastion, besides my disinterest in killing a child, do you not feel something different with this girl? I have studied many things in my life, and never have I heard of a Fated Mate found so young. Usually the gods keep such humans hidden away from the Supernatural so that they may grow as they will. Instead, this one actually lives within a nest. Why? What reason do the gods wish for her existence to already be known years before she feels The Pull? There is some power already around the girl, and I do not wish to interfere in the gods' plans. Not to mention if she truly does know the Gaul … well, that is one vampire I have no desire to ever cross."
Sebastion scowled, but nodded his compliance as the Priestess took down the privacy spell. He glared at the watching girl. "If you are lying-!"
"I wouldn't lie about such a thing. My dad said that if one ever claimed wrongful allegiance with a bloodline, that it would mean instant death if the person was caught." Alex really wished she knew what the two of them had talked about. Whatever it was, it had definitely pissed off the male.
The old woman continued to stare at her with those knowing eyes and folded her hands together. "Well then, I see only one thing to do. Give the girl a phone and let us hear what the Gaul has to say. Put it on speaker, and place it on the table."
Alex blinked when a cell phone was shoved into her hands by a scowling Sebastion.
"Call the Gaul so we can get this over with," he snapped.
Alex counted herself lucky that besides learning Godric's address from her father's papers, she had also memorized his phone number when her dad once again forgot his phone on the dining room table. If it hadn't been for her promise to never call her vampire again, and the threat of death by wolf fangs, she would have called him the moment she discovered his number. Luckily for her, her dad hadn't made her promise not to mail him anything. An important, if small, loophole.
Excitement fluttered in her belly, and she hit the numbers with trembling fingers and put the phone on the table. She was going to talk to Godric again! He would make everything okay with the witches, and then she would get to actually talk to him. She had practiced what she was going to say in the mirror for ages and ages, but as the phone rang every phrase chosen to show him how composed and mature she now was, disappeared.
She gulped when the phone was picked up and lowered her head, her eyes clenched tight when a calm, accented voice answered. The voice seemed to reach to that place inside of her chest, and soothed.
"Yes?"
She tried to say something, she really did, but her heart was beating so fast, and her throat felt as dry as the Sahara. Deep joy welled, and her entire body trembled with the strength of it.
"Who is this?" the voice asked again, a hint of firm command now in its soft tones.
"G-Godric?" she stuttered, and cringed when her voice cracked. She ignored the snickers of the watching coven, and her eyes defiantly found the green ones of their Priestess. They would see that she and Godric did know each other and they would leave her alone…and nobody would ever, ever, ever tell her dad about this.
The pause seemed to go on forever, and she nervously licked her lips as the Priestess' eyebrows rose. "Um … Godric?" She was vaguely pleased that this time her voice was clear, and that she didn't stutter. "It's me … Alex."
A sudden worry hit her. Why wasn't he answering? Had he forgotten about her?
Godric woke for the night, and stared up at the canopy of his hand-carved mahogany bed. He ignored the trappings of wealth, and slid out from under the the unnecessary covers as his thoughts traveled down well worn roads. Sometimes he longed for the simple days of sleeping in the earth, but it was easier to allow Isabel to decorate as she pleased. Frankly he was disinterested that a a vampire of his age and position was 'required to have a certain appearance'. When he had, rather politely he thought, questioned why Isabel found it so important to decorate his private resting place, she had only shook her head in exasperation.
He stepped into the overly spacious bathroom and within three minutes had showered, dried, and dressed for the day, his thoughts still dark. What was the point of eternity if this was what he had to look forward to? Every night the same, with vampires coming before him for advice or punishment. Once he had thought that his kinds could change, but with The Great Revelation coming in just a few years, the unrest amongst his kind only grew and proved him wrong.
He walked through his nest and ignored the watching vampires and their glamoured humans with practiced ease. As he passed an open window, he paused and looked out into the garden as the fragrant scent of moonflowers seemingly curled around him. Three years ago Isabel had had the entire garden replanted with dozens of the delicate plants. When he had objected, she had rather tartly asked why he cared since he never concerned himself about such trifles in the past. Unless, she rather insolently insinuated, there was a reason for his sudden dislike of her landscaping choices? His lack of response had made her smug, and the planting had continued until the nest smelled constantly of the night-blooming flora.
With an internal sigh, he sat behind his desk and glanced down, as was his habit, at the locked drawer. Alex would be thirteen now … three years closer to reaching her maturity and feeling The Pull towards her mate. He easily imagined that the bright and creative child had dozens of human friends, and no longer thought of the Dallas nest. He suspected such thoughts to plague his Second, since she seemed so intent on reminding herself of the girl. If the flowers made Isabel happy, then Godric had reluctantly decided to tolerate their aroma.
He looked up as his Lieutenants entered the office, and nodded at Isabel and Stan as they led in two young vampires. For some reason he felt oddly on edge, and he took a moment to center himself. "Report," he ordered softly, and leaned back to listen as they discussed the first problem of the night. Apparently a young Maker was unable to control his new Child, and the duo had run afoul of a local Were pack. This was why vampires were strongly encouraged to not Turn anyone before they reached at least 150 years of age. After that concern was addressed, they moved on to the next.
Godric was giving judgement to three vampires who should have known better than to challenge his rules, when he suddenly froze and his head tilted to the side as if he listened to something just out of reach.
Isabel and Stan glanced at each other, but the other other three vampires were too terrified to even raise their eyes from the floor.
"Sheriff?" Isabel asked quietly when Stan nudged her. She flinched when her Sheriff turned his attention to her. Very few vampires could meet the Ancient's eyes without cringing at the power his seemingly young form contained and that so easily blanketed the space around him. Even contained it made those around him … uncomfortable.
"My apologies, I thought I had heard something." He continued to pass down judgement to the three vampires, and to those that followed them, but it was obvious to Isabel that he was slightly distracted.
When the last vampire was pulled from the office by his ears by a grinning Stan, Isabel firmly closed the door and stared at her Sheriff. "Godric, are you well?" she asked softly, concerned as the Ancient seemed to absentmindedly rub at his chest.
"Yes, I thought for a moment that I had felt something from one of my progeny, but they are both well."
Isabel's eyes furrowed. "What was it that you sensed?"
Her Sheriff's eyes remained narrowed in deep thought as he continued to try and recapture the faint sensation. He ignored his sudden desire for blood with practiced ease, although he should not feel such cravings for another three weeks. "Perhaps I only imagined it, it has been long since I fed and I find that I am … tired."
She was honored that he trusted her enough to share even that small bit of information as her sheriff was a deeply private man. In the 400 years she had been his lieutenant, such confessions could be counted on three fingers. When he looked up, she was once again saddened to see how flat and lifeless his eyes appeared in his young face. Instead of their once grey color, they now appeared almost like a muddy brown. Her ploy with the moonflowers to remind the Ancient of the joyful child that once resided in the nest seemed to have failed. In fact, if it had not been for the shattered desk, and his gentle tone with a sick Alex three years ago, she would still be under the assumption that he was completely indifferent. She debated on calling Eric to come for an impromptu visit, but he was just as busy in his own Area dealing with the upcoming Great Revelation.
"Do not fret, Isabel." Godric said calmly, his wise eyes easily discerning her worry. "All is well. Now, what do we have-"
The ringing phone interrupted, and Godric glanced curiously at the unknown and foreign number as he reached for the receiver. "Yes?"
For a moment nothing came over the line and he raised an eyebrow. "Who is this?" he asked, a hint of steel entering his voice.
The voice that came over the line, although obviously deeply stressed, was the most welcome sound he had heard in years. For the first time in centuries he found himself unable to immediately respond.
"G-Godric?"
"It's me … Alex." Her heart beat so fast she was sure he had to hear it all the way in Dallas.
"Little one," he replied, and she almost wept at the gentle tone that he had sometimes used just for her. He hadn't forgotten her!
The child almost seemed to sway in relief, and the brilliant smile she turned on the watching coven made the Priestess' lips quirk. The defiant, but obviously terrified, girl from before was replaced by a giddy young teenager, and the drastic change was oddly … endearing. Apparently this girl was not afraid of a vampire that other Supernaturals feared.
It was obvious that the child was very fond of the deadly and terrifying vampire, a fact that was only proven true when she bounced excitedly on her toes and started to chatter as if her life did not depend upon the outcome of the call. Delicately, the Priestess cleared her throat to get the young Fated Mate's attention.
Alex's eyes flashed towards the noise, and her rambling about all the places she had been since she had last spoken to Godric came to a sudden halt.
"Alex," Godric's soft voice said, "while my nest is now swept for listening and tracking devices regularly, why did you contact me knowing the danger? I somehow doubt Theron would approve of this. Who is that in the background?"
"Um…" Alex glanced everywhere but at the witches who were looking more and more intrigued by the conversation as it went on. The second, pointed cough from by the Priestess made her shoulders slump. She could feel the sweat drop off her forehead, and saw the green-tinged droplet splatter next to her converse sneakers. Nervously she shuffled her feet, and wondered just how much trouble she was going to be in.
With a resigned sigh she took a deep breath and spoke as fast as humanly possible. "So your name may have been mentioned, and when I finally remembered The Code to tell them who I am they didn't believe me and they threatened to throw me outside where this thing had chased me … and … and please don't tell my dad he'll ground me forever because I wasn't supposed to be out on Samhain and I may have dressed up like a witch," she said and cringed as she waited for his reaction. This was a world of not good.
The silence on the other end was deafening.
"Alexandra."
She winced at the flat tone. Yep, she was in trouble. She desperately ignored the smirk that Sebastion gave her, and really wished she had stayed home.
"Yes Mr. Sher…I mean, Godric?" she mumbled.
He would not allow her childhood nickname for him to sway his attention from her current danger. No matter whether or not he had missed it. "Who are your companions? I can hear many heartbeats other than yours."
She scowled, and scuffed her foot over the rune covered floor. She remembered that cool tone, and she didn't like it directed at her. At all. Could this night get any worse?
"Alexandra."
Her eyes burned when he called her by her full name for the second time, and she roughly cleared her throat. The feeling in her chest ached. "Just some," she braced herself, "witches."
For the first time in centuries Godric's fangs snicked out against his will, and his progeny suddenly clamored across their bond as they felt his icy rage. He ignored Isabel's uncharacteristic curse as he stared down at the phone in disbelief. How did the child get into such trouble? First Weres, and now witches? And something had chased her as well? If other human children were as accident prone he was surprised any survived to adulthood. The subtle change in her breathing caught his attention, and he irritably swatted at his nosey progeny over their bond.
"Alex, control yourself. This is not the time for tears." He saw the incredulous look Isabel shot him at his curt tone, even as his Second cringed under the force of his dark aura. Further in the nest he heard Stan swear, and a crash as several younger vampires stampeded from the building to get as far from their Sheriff as possible.
Alex bit her trembling lip. "You're angry at me," she whispered painfully, and twisted her fingers nervously in her sleeve. The answer was immediate, but barely made her feel better since she could still somehow tell that he was furious. She sadly thought of her gift to him, and wondered if he would still accept it.
"No, but I do wish to know why your family would allow you to go out on such a night, and dressed as a witch. It is remarkably irresponsible of Theron to risk your well-being in such a way."
The Priestess took this time to interject and remind the Gaul, although she doubted he had forgotten, that the girl was in some rather serious trouble. "Yes, I would like to know this as well considering the girl refused a detailed answer when asked. Her kind is not welcome amongst witches, for all that she is human. Especially on one of our holiest nights. She barged into the coven's home as if she were chased by hungry demons, and has disrupted our sacred rituals."
Alex was confused, but figured the woman meant humans that associated with vampires. She ignored the conversation as the Priestess introduced herself to Godric, and the coldly polite remarks they exchanged as they followed The Code. Maybe they would forget their question, and she wouldn't have to tell them? She eyeballed the distance to the door, and debated if Death By Shadow Monster would be better then having to humiliate herself before her vampire.
"Alexandra," Godric's voice dragged her attention back to the present. "Please explain yourself. Now."
It was not a request.
She could feel her face turn bright red, and she wished that a hole would open up in the ground and swallow her. A new voice came over the phone and Alex cringed when she recognized a very stern Ms. Isabel. Uh oh.
"Answer the Sheriff, Alex."
She gave a pleading look, but at the Priestess' raised eyebrow, her shoulders slumped. "Dad just told us that we had to leave Rio, but I wanted to finish my art project so after they left I, uh, snuck out. At class Marco asked me to go trick-or-treating with them tonight, and I said yes, and we all went and got costumes together. Dad and my brothers didn't know about it, promise! I hid it when I got home. Why is it such a big deal? Other humans dress up like witches all the time!" she whined. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
She slapped a hand over her mouth and cringed at the chilly silence. Sunspots. She really needed sunspots to disrupt the phone call right now! Of course she wasn't that lucky.
"You do not believe sneaking out and lying to your nest, your family, to be wrong?"
The clear disapproval and distaste stung, and she swallowed heavily. "N-No. I m-mean, yes. Um …" She was confused, and didn't know what to say. All she had wanted was to have fun, but everything had gone wrong so quickly, and she hadn't known how to stop it. Then there was that thing in the alley, and now she was surrounded by witches. Why did these things happen to her?
"Continue, youngling."
She cringed at his arctic tone, and took a deep breath. This sucked, and Godric was going to be even angrier. He was probably going to think she was just a pathetic and stupid kid that couldn't take care of herself too. Or maybe … she hurt when she thought that maybe he would think that she deserved what had happened. That Marco had been right with what he had said.
The Priestess watched as the girl seemed to crumble inwards and wrapped her arms around her middle. Perhaps calling the Gaul had not been the best thing to do considering the girl seemed at the point of tears. She really did not want to deal with a furiously protective Ancient vampire. She had been sure the child had been lying, but apparently the two did know each other.
"Dad keeps telling me I need to have more 'human experiences' but …" she trailed off and angrily wiped at her eyes.
"But, what?"
"But …" She trembled, and suddenly it felt like a dam burst inside of her as the words quickly tumbled out. All the pain and confusion she had felt for the past few years surged out of her as she spoke to the one person she trusted more than even Josiah or her Dad. He was her Mr. Sheriff Sir and he would make everything better. "H-Human kids don't like me. They say I'm strange and they don't want to be around me, and I try r-really hard b-but …"
Godric's eyes shut as her words tugged at his heart. Did humans truly not see what a rare treasure she was? He cared not who heard him comfort her, let them know that he valued her, and that if they harmed one hair on her head he would destroy them. For once he was extremely grateful for his vicious reputation. "Do not cry, little firefly. Humans often lack the wisdom to appreciate what they should."
The warmth in his voice made her hope that maybe he wasn't so angry anymore, and gave her the courage to continue. "So when Marco asked me to go with him and his friends I-I thought maybe they had decided to be nice. I didn't know that the girls thought my brothers were hot, and that Marco had asked me out on a date. We were in a group of people, I didn't even know you could go on a date in a group of people. I've always wanted to dress up for Samhain, but dad never let me. I thought there was going to be c-candy, but instead they went around p-playing mean pranks on people with toilet paper and stuff. T-Then things happened and …" her words choked up as she struggled to continue. "And he got so angry at me, and he said mean things, and they all left me, and I was walking home, and I got lost, and it was dark, and I was s-scared and … and … there was this shadowy thing in an alley that said it wanted to eat me, and there was a cat and … and …"
In Dallas, Godric's chest rumbled with a continuous, nearly silent growl that only other vampires could hear as he listened to her pain and confusion. He swore that if his heart could beat, it would have stopped when Alex explained her situation. How did she get into such trouble? What had she stumbled across this time, and what did she mean about a 'shadowy thing' and a cat? Isabel growled lowly next to him, and he shot her a quelling look.
"Alex, take a deep breath and calm yourself." He paused for a moment, and mentally ran back over the jumble of words, and he jerked upright in his chair with a feral growl. "Wait, what date? You are much to young to date."
Alex pouted, and glared at the phone. "Godric I'm not a kid anymore, I'm thirteen. How was I supposed to know it was a date since I've never been on one before? Besides …" her voice trailed off and she turned her blushing face away from the coven.
"Continue, little one."
"I don't want to," she whispered.
"You must. Nothing you say could change my opinion of you," he soothed.
Alex's shoulders slumped, and she wanted to hide as she forced the words out. "Humans don't like to touch me, especially males. I don't know why, but it's been that way for the last two years." She took a deep breath, and her voice shook. "M-Marco apparently had a b-bet with the other guys in the art class. T-They said that if he could stand to go on a date with me, to h-hold my hand, t-they would give him… I don't know. Something. Money, maybe."
The witches listened with mounting sympathy, and some amusement, as the small human girl complained about a human boy to one of the most feared and powerful vampires in the world. A vampire that kings and queens begged for advice from about policies that affected nations. The next words, however, had the Priestess begin to seriously contemplate leaving as quickly as possible.
"He kept trying to touch me, and I really thought there was something cool behind the shed!" she said, deeply aggrieved.
The loud snarl, and shattering sound of wood, made her jerk. "Um…Godric?"
"What. Happened. Behind. The. Shed?" He growled each word and ignored Isabel's shudder of fear as his aura snapped viciously in the air. Some boy had dared to humiliate her, to use her and prey upon her innocence. If he had forced himself on her, there would be no place on this planet that the human could hide, and his revenge would span years. What he would do to the human would make his previous torturous act seem mild-mannered in comparison.
Alex pretended that his protective tone didn't make her feel better, and instead rolled her eyes at Godric's grumpy attitude, much to the horror of the witches. "I really don't want to talk about it." Why were the witches looking at her so strangely? It was just Godric on the phone, even if he was being all growly and overly vampire-y. She had had a really bad night, and she wished he would purr for her, it had always made her feel so safe when she lived in his nest.
"Alex." The word practically had frost clinging to it.
"Tell us what happened, child," The Priestess commanded. The girl looked unharmed, and her clothes were intact, but considering the concern the Ancient was showing, she had no wish for any marks caused by this foolish Marco to be attributed to her coven. Frankly she wanted to get everything over with and to shove the child out the door, and back to her nest. Let them deal with a feral Gaul!
"Fine!" Alex glared daggers at the phone, and crossed her arms over her chest. "He tried to kiss me, but it was nasty and wet, and he tried to shove his tongue in my mouth! When I kneed him and pushed him away, his friends jumped out from behind the shed and started laughing at him. They said he lost the b-bet." She paused and gnawed on her lip as her bravado faded, and her hurt took over. "Godric, is that what kissing is like? I saw Bennett kissing a girl and they both seemed to like it, but it felt like Marco was gnawing my face off like Dr. Lector in that movie Silence of the Lambs. Godric, there was drool," she said, deeply aggrieved. Kissing had never looked so nasty in the movies! He had just turned, shoved his face at hers, and mashed their mouths together while keeping his body as far from hers as possible.
Alex frowned in confusion at the horrified look on the Priestess' face. "I had to wipe drool off my face afterwards! After I kneed him, he got really embarrassed when his friends made fun of him. He … he said that I was an ugly tease, a horrible kisser, and a cold fish, and that I could find my way home on my own because the bet was the only reason they had even invited me along. I didn't have any money for a cab because, um, I just didn't, and I got really turned around. Then there was something in an alley, and I thought it was a cat at first but it made this scratching noise like it had claws. It made fun of me, and it was so s-scary, and dad was right about everything!"
She went pale and shivered at the memory of how terrified and small she felt. "I-I couldn't move, and it wasn't until the cat scratched me that I ran as fast as I c-could, and I think it was chasing me, and that's how I stumbled across this coven."
The Priestess made a motion to her witches, and they began to quietly slip away from the room. The coven needed to get distance between themselves and the girl if Death went on one of his infamous sprees. People may say that he was reformed, but at his heart she knew he was truly a monster. The girl's coming upon them was obviously an accident, and she wished no part in further enraging a vampire protecting a Fated Mate. Strangely enough she pitied the life this girl would lead, trapped in fate's grip before she ever truly knew what it was to live. Thankfully, the child was not her problem.
Alex was so confused and hurt that she didn't notice that it was only the Priestess and Sebastion left in the room. She had to let Godric know that she hadn't wanted Marco to kiss her. "I didn't want him to be my first kiss, Godric. Why would he call me those names when I was never mean to him? Why would they bet about something like that? What did he mean by calling me a cold fish? Am I ugly? Dad always says that I'm 'lovely', but he's my dad so of course he would say that …" her words trailed off as her embarrassment and confusion hit her like a tidal wave. Why was growing up so hard?
Godric glared down at his desk thousands of miles away as he listened to the poison coming from Alex that some foolish human boy had spouted after his unwelcome advances were spurned. The fact that they bet on her … well, Isabel was practically vibrating with rage, and he was vaguely concerned that she was going to attempt to snatch the phone from him. He hoped she controlled herself, as he would hate to have to punish his Second.
"Godric?" Alex asked, and her fingers tangled in the hem of her sleeve. "Are all dates as confusing as this? I didn't even know I was on a date, and he was just so sweaty and loud, and he smelled weird." She sniffled and miserably looked down at the green face paint smeared across her forearm. "I … I just wanted to do something fun for once, and I'm lonely because dad keeps trying to get me to spend time with humans my own age, b-but I'm not like them … but I'm not a vampire either." Her words grew thick at the end as she struggled to control her emotions like her dad had taught her. She wasn't a child anymore, and she refused to cry over stupid things. It felt good, though, to talk to her vampire about this, even if he was angry with her.
"Alexandra, listen to me," he said firmly and waited for her acknowledgement. Even though her voice was mostly level, he could tell she struggled to hold back tears and it ripped at his silent heart. "I care not what physical attributes you have been graced with, as there is no way that you could ever be ugly. You are a beautiful soul, and are certainly no tease, so I do not wish to hear such words again. They are merely the product of an immature boy who was unworthy of you, and who has much to learn about compassion and honor. You did nothing wrong, little firefly, and I beg to differ with you. It was not your first kiss."
Alex's brow furrowed. "But … I mean—"
"Alex," Godric's voice was so commanding that her teeth closed with a click. "You can only count it as your first when you are also desirous of the act. As for being a 'cold fish'…" Godric's voice trailed off in a snarl. "You are too young for such things, and not responding to the forced advances of a clumsy youth does not make you cold."
Alex smiled, before a random thought hit her. "Um, Godric? Do all guys kiss like that? Or is it a human thing?"
Godric shifted, and stared cooly at a suddenly amused Isabel. He remembered a conversation years ago in a moonlit garden about fireflies and propagating the species, and had no desire to once again delve into such discussions. "Young boys tend to be rather unskilled in that area as it takes time and practice to become proficient."
Alex breathed out a sigh of relief. "So anyone older wont kiss like that?"
"People range in technique and ability," he reluctantly answered. The idea of her kissing anyone made him uncomfortable, and he briefly debated on contacting Theron and alerting him to the fact that human boys were behaving inappropriately with his daughter.
For Alex's own good, of course.
"Well, Bennett seemed to do okay considering his companions always seem happy," she said logically. "He's the youngest of my brothers at 400, so that means older vampires would know what they are doing, and wouldn't gnaw my face off. Or drool." She was pleased with her logic, especially since she knew Godric was super old. Although the idea of Godric kissing anyone made something in her stomach flip in a bad way.
"You will not be kissing any vampires!" Godric clamped down so viciously on his bonds and power that he could feel his progeny shudder. It was the True Death for any vampire not their mate to touch one such as her in that manner. Plans swam through his mind on how to further insure that no other Supernatural would even think of touching Alex, and his lips quirked deviously at the perfect idea.
Alex rolled her eyes, but hid a smile. Silly vampire! Of course she wouldn't be kissing any other vampires but him! She was really glad he had told her that he was a better kisser than that stupid Marco. For the first time in a long time she felt really happy.
"I…I've missed you, Godric."
The Priestess smoothly interjected. "Yes, well, be that as it may I think you have proved that your coming here was just an accident. My coven have determined that whatever you say chased you is no longer in the area. You may go. Unharmed. There will be no bad blood between this coven and the Makhaira Bloodline. Or with the Gaul."
Alex blinked as the old woman made a shooing motion with her hands to the door. Where had all the other witches gone?
"But-" Alex frowned when Godric cut her off.
"Witch, I will be sending someone to verify Alex's physical and metaphysical health. It would be rather unfortunate for your coven if any spells or curses were found on her person. I would be most … displeased," he threatened, and his overwhelming power could be felt even over the phone.
The Priestess glanced at Sebastion, who gave a shaky nod. "She will be sent on her way, and I will even supply her currency for a cab as well as cast protection on the vehicle to hide her from evil intent. Our responsibility for her person ends the moment she enters the car. Agreed?"
"Agreed. Alex," Godric ordered. "When you return to your nest Dr. Ludwig will teleport to you, so do not tarry. It is lucky she still has some of your blood on file, young one, so that she can easily find you. You will go directly from the vehicle and into the building."
Alex's jaw dropped. "But … but I don't want to get off the phone! We haven't talked at all, and there is so much I want to tell you. Didn't you miss me? I missed you," she complained in a heartbroken tone.
Godric kept his face carefully blank during Isabel's muffled laughter. The girl did not understand the seriousness of the danger she still faced. "Child, the danger still persists, and I will not have you in peril for the sake of a silly conversation. Have you not already been in enough trouble for one evening?"
Anger surged through her, and her fists clenched. The only reason she had even been out at night was for his gift! Granted, he didn't know that, but why was he being so mean? Why couldn't he just talk to her?
"You said you sweep your nest for listening devices now, and this phone belongs to someone else. Can't we talk for just a little bit? Please?" she begged.
"Child, I will not endanger you-" To his shock, Alex interrupted him.
"Stop calling me a child!" she shouted, and stomped her foot. "I'm 13, not a kid! Why can't you just talk to me for a few minutes? Why are you being so mean?"
"Alexandra, calm yourself. Your safety is more important than a foolish conversation." Godric raised an eyebrow when Isabel winced, and shook her head.
Alex trembled with anger and hurt. Foolish? He thought talking to her was stupid? The ache in her chest twisted and burned.
"You … you didn't miss me at all, did you?" The realization made her voice crack and splinter. Godric was silent, and she swallowed noisily. Every trick her dad had taught her for controlling her horrible temper disappeared, the pain so deep that tears she had promised herself to never again shed overwhelmed her, and made her words barely understandable.
"I-It was f-for you, and I w-worked so hard and planned for a year, a-and y-you don't—" her words ended on a sob before she struggled on. "I'm gonna be in so much trouble with my dad, and I had to save my allowance for months and months, and it was r-really hard but I did … and I … and I …I was so scared and everything was dark!" her fragmented words made little sense, and Godric stared down sightlessly at the desk as she continued.
"And I lied to J-Josiah and e-everyone … and you don't even care! You probably never would have called me ever again if I hadn't called you, would you? I hate you!" Alex turned, and ran out of the room and onto the porch where she slumped against the side of the house and hid her face in her knees. She wanted to go home and curl up in her bed and pretend the entire night hadn't happened. Pretend like it was yesterday and she still believed he thought about her as much as she did him. That there weren't creepy things in alleys that made her feel so small and helpless.
The Priestess joined her a few minutes later, and Alex rose shakily to her feet. "His kind are not known for their emotions, child. Here is your trinket back," she said as she handed her the badge. "You said your family is leaving Rio tonight?"
"Yeah," Alex whispered, and rubbed at her chest. She felt more alone than ever before, and it hurt and made her feel sick. She glared down at the stupid badge and wished she had never made it.
The old woman cast out her magic, but felt nothing untoward and escorted the silent child out to the main street. With great relief she smiled when she saw an empty cab idling nearby. Perfect.
"Good, the further away you are from Rio the happier my coven will be." She opened the door and gently shoved the child into the car. With shaking fingers she handed several bills to the golden-eyed male cabbie and traced a protection rune on the door of the car. Something about the driver was odd, but she wanted the girl's life out of her hands, and the ward would not allow any harm to come to her while she was in the car.
"Take her to wherever she wants to go. Goodbye, and please do not return to Rio before you are eighteen."
Alex huddled in the warm seat and clutched the badge to the empty feeling in her chest. A single tear slid down her face and splashed onto it's surface which she hastily wiped it away. Softly, she gave directions to the driver, pulled her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them.
"Kid, are you okay?"
She met the cabbie's gold eyes in the mirror, and for a moment curiosity pierced through her misery. "Do you know Amaryanda? She drove me earlier and you two have the same eyes." Vague suspicion and familiarity grew, but the man's eyes seemed to flash, and the worries slipped away. He was just a taxi driver, and she had more important things to think about. Like the fact that her dad was going to kill her, and that everything that she had done had been for nothing.
The man smiled grimly. "Yes, she is my sister and we share the same area of responsibility. Sometimes that responsibility requires both of us to see it completed. So are you okay? You look like you've had a hell of a night."
"I'm fine." she muttered, and turned away.
"It's a bad night to be out," he offered after a moment. "Its easy to get into all sorts of trouble very quickly. Want to talk about it?"
Her voice was choked sounding. "No."
"Hmm." The man's strange eyes glanced up into the rearview mirror. "Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who isn't involved. Cabbies are like lawyers or shrinks, anything you tell me will stay in this car."
She raised desolate and confused eyes to his. For a moment he was sure she would refuse, but then words began to tumble out into the quiet car.
"He … he didn't want to talk to me! It was a horrible night and everything went wrong, but he got on the phone and made it all better but then he just wanted to send me home. He wouldn't talk to me for even a minute! I had so much I wanted to tell him," she said sadly.
The man gave an odd smile. "Yeah? Did he have a good reason? This isn't exactly a good neighborhood to wander through at night, perhaps he wanted you to go somewhere safer?"
Alex sulkily glared down at the dirty hem of her costume. "No." She paused, rubbed absentmindedly at the twisting pain in her chest, and then reluctantly muttered, "Maybe."
"Are you hurt?" the man suddenly asked, and something was different in his voice. Something fierce.
"No, my chest just aches. It happens sometimes, it always has." She blinked in surprise when the man hit the breaks and abruptly turned around to stare at her.
"Have you told your family?"
"Um, no. Doesn't it happen to most hum—, I mean, most people?"
The man relaxed and she had the odd idea that he was strangely relieved. "Yeah, its normal and nothing you need to think about." He turned around and the car smoothly pulled back into traffic. "So, this friend of yours, he was really looking out for you then? Sounds to me like he was just protecting you."
Her hopeful smile practically lit up the dark interior of the cab. "You think so?"
The cabbie sighed, "Yeah. Unfortunately." The last was said so lowly he must have thought she wouldn't hear him. Before she could ask him what he meant they arrived at her hotel and once again his eyes met hers in the mirror.
"Be more careful in the future. Whatever trouble you got into, I'm sure it could have gone a lot worse for all involved." His knowing eyes looked over her tear stained face and he gave her an oddly forced smile. "Maybe you should apologize to your friend, I'm sure it will make you feel better. Now get yourself home, and no more sneaking out!"
He watched as she scampered into the brightly lit hotel and sighed tiredly. "Shut up, Amarya."
His sister blinked into view in the passenger seat, a teasing smile on her lips. "What? If you ever decide to shed your wings, I feel like you have a great future in writing advice columns to the love lorn in some third-rate newspaper!"
Her brother rolled his eyes and started the car. "Their bond is growing deeper and is taking a stronger physical form. It's been years since they met, or even spoke, so how is this happening? Both are showing the signs, although the vampire's symptoms are more emotional than physical. She still has five more years before she feels The Pull."
"I still can't believe I'm helping you protect his future mate," Amaryanda grumbled.
He ignored his sister's complaint, as he had heard it hundreds of times over the last three years. "This was too close for comfort. My charge should have died this night outside of that alley, yet somehow she survived, and with no help from us. Something blocked our help, then deflected her towards the lesser danger. The creature in that alley would have eaten her soul and feasted upon her body if that cat had not broken her trance. We have barely managed to keep her presence hidden from our other brothers and sisters, and I feel like this is only the beginning. She is no longer content to stay hidden in her family's shadow, and I fear that soon we may not be enough."
Alex didn't relax until she was behind the closed and locked doors of the nest. What was she going to do? She had to figure out a way to apologize to Godric, and before her dad got home. She wasn't foolish enough to think that he wouldn't know about her adventure, because if Godric didn't tell him, then the building employees who saw her entrance would. She pressed her palm against her chest and thunked her head against the door. What was she going to do?
The sudden voice from behind her made her jump and spin around.
"Well girlie, what trouble did you get yourself into this time?"
For a moment Alex stared at Dr. Ludwig, and then a smile spread across her face.
Godric stared emotionlessly at a clearly upset Isabel after he got off the phone with a furious Theron. Alex's adopted father was greatly displeased, but grateful that the Gaul had stepped in and protected his daughter. Godric found himself defending Alex as he explained what he knew of her thoughts and feelings that led to her foolish actions. His mind echoed unpleasantly with the heartbroken words the girl had sobbed into the phone, and he wished she had given him time to respond.
"I do not envy her the conversation her father is planning on having with her," Isabel muttered. "Will you try and contact her again? The poor thing was devastated, although that is not a good enough reason for the rude tone she took with you." Isabel paused and looked worriedly at the seemingly impassive Sheriff. "You do know she didn't mean it, right? There is no way that that girl hates you, she was just upset and teenagers are not known for their emotional levelheadedness."
Godric calmly gazed at his Second. "Do not worry so, Theron will take care of the situation and unless Alex somehow falls into more trouble I doubt she will be able to contact the nest again. It is safer for her to keep her distance, you know this." Reluctantly he added, "Perhaps it is better for her to be angry if it will force her to keep her distance."
Isabel huffed and glared at her stubborn Sheriff. She had wanted to talk to Alex, to make sure she was well after her stressful night. The poor girl practically cried out for female guidance.
Although her Sheriff's anger had been a welcome respite from his apathy, she frowned at how temporary the change had been. While Stan was unconcerned with Godric's slow decent into isolated apathy, Isabel found herself becoming more worried for the deceptively young looking vampire. In the last few years she had introduced him to beautiful humans, vampires, and even other Supernaturals, yet none garnered his interest and only caused him to further withdraw. It didn't help that most feared even being in the same room as him. He was coldly polite, but always distant, and she helplessly watched him slip further and further away. Not even Eric's phone calls aroused more than a modicum of emotional response. The only person who did, was Alex.
Isabel bowed and left the office, her thoughts in a whirl. Was it foolish of Isabel to hope that, for her Sheriff's sake, the girl would need help again … and soon?
Godric moved reluctantly to the pond at the center of his private garden. The delicate scent of the night-blooming flowers perfumed the air, and he automatically stopped breathing as had become his habit. No matter the centuries that past he would always associate this scent with the amusing child who did not fear him.
He frowned and idly plucked a small purple bud as he contemplated the child's heartbroken words. What had she meant that it was all for him? What had taken a year, and did she truly hate him? Perhaps it was kharma for his monstrous past, and an indication from the very gods that he would never find absolution for his sins. Such dark thoughts were coming more frequently with each passing year and he had even begun to debate the wisdom of meeting the sun. Perhaps … perhaps he would do so after Alex turned eighteen and found safety with her fated vampire mate.
He had truly wished to speak with her, but Theron had given him grave news that several of the Greek vampire's businesses had received increased interest. The true reason that they were leaving Rio so quickly was for just that reason, and Godric refused to in any way endanger Alex. As much as it pained him, her emotional well-being mattered less than her physical one.
Even if it meant that she believed he was indifferent.
His head jerked up, and he turned to his left as he felt the shift in the air that preceded teleportation. Seconds later Dr. Ludwig stood before him and he stared impassively at the small woman.
"I trust everything was well with Alex?" he asked calmly. His inner monster coiled under his skin as he waited for the answer.
Dr. Ludwig rolled her eyes and grimace. "The girl is fine, except for several small cuts and bruises. She is currently having a rather one-sided conversation with her father."
He had not even realized how worried he had been until the knot inside his chest relaxed. "Good," he murmured, and ran his hands lightly over the barely open flower cupped in his palms.
He blinked when a small object rather clumsily wrapped in pink Happy Birthday paper was shoved into his view.
"Here," the doctor said gruffly. "I already told the girl I'm not a package delivery service, but she was so insistent that it was easier to agree so that she would calm down."
Godric barely acknowledged the doctor, his attention caught by the Sheriff badge nestled in ripped paper that he held in his hands. He was profoundly touched. When was the last time someone bothered to give him a true gift? Something chosen with care and for a reason, and not for the amount of money the object cost. The little star was obviously handmade, and his lips quirked at its slightly lopsided appearance.
His surprised inhale at the unexpected present made a very soft purr rumble in his chest. He could smell her blood, but even more faintly he could smell her tears. Suddenly her upset words made more sense. This was why she had snuck out even though she knew it was wrong. She must have somehow learned his address, and planned to send it to him. He knew the price of international shipping, even for items this small, and a gentle warmth spread through his chest when he realized just how hard she had worked for this one gift.
It mattered more to him then the most expensive and rare items given to curry his favor.
A small piece of paper fluttered to the ground and his sharp eyesight picked out the hurriedly scribbled 'I'm sorry. Forgive me?'. Tension dissipated, and he suddenly felt … lighter.
Doctor Ludwig rolled her eyes and huffed at the frozen vampire. "Great. So, now that I've done my good deed for the decade by playing FedEx I'll be—"
"I would ask you to take her something in return."
The doctor's jaw snapped closed, and she stared. "I already told you that I'm not a delivery service!"
"I will pay ten times your normal consultation fee for this consideration," he said, and flicked his eyes up to the small doctor.
The power behind their grey gaze was enough to even take her aback, and she reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But this is the only time, and you will pay my bill in full by tomorrow. What am I taking?"
Godric frowned in thought. A flickering from further in the garden caught his attention, and he smiled.
Alex walked dejectedly back into her room, her ears still ringing from the very firm scolding her father had given her. The two bags her father allowed her to bring from one nest to another were packed, and the furniture was already covered in sheets, but she didn't let that stop her from falling backwards onto her covered bed.
Her dad had made her tell the story three times, and each time he seemed to grow angrier. She was grounded for six months, her allowance cut off for the same period of time, and she would be spending quality bonding time with her brothers in the training room. Her feet already hurt from all the running she would be doing. Before she had been banished back to her bedroom, she had asked if he knew what the Shadow Monster had been, and the grim expression on her dad's face made it apparent that the conversation was closed.
A slight buzzing noise caught her attention, and she opened her eyes and craned her neck. Her exhaustion fell away as she twisted onto her stomach and loudly giggled. Quickly, she slapped a hand over her mouth and looked at the door for a moment before she relaxed. She rested her chin on her hands and kicked her legs back and forth as she watched the dozen fireflies flicker in the large glass jar. Dr. Ludwig must have brought it to back to her while she was getting yelled at by her dad, and had left it for her to find. Only one person would give her this, and her eyes filled when she saw the single word written in beautiful cursive on the lid of the jar.
Always.
The awful burning ache in her chest became its normal dull throb, and she knew that everything would be okay.
Her dad called for her as it was time to leave for their next home. Quickly she scrambled off the bed and grabbed the jar as she ran to the door that led to the tiny outdoor patio. With shaking fingers she unscrewed the top and watched as the fireflies lit into the night air.
With a bounce in her step she carefully set the jar down and slide the lid into her pocket so her fingers could trace the word over and over during her nest's journey to their new home.
Elsewhere
Deep in a dark forest, a bright power stood at the outer edge of the Oak's shadow, and with great satisfaction watched as the the moonflower's roots dove deeper into the ground to intertwine further with the Oak's. Soon nothing, and no amount of dark intent, would be able to separate the two. Such things took time, though, even for fated mates. Time that they would not have had without the power's interference in the order of the child's life, but much rested upon the Gaul's future survival. Things were shifting, however, as those with the power to tip the balance of fate in the opposite direction slowly became aware of the changing future. Only time would tell if the bonds the two mates grew between them would be strong enough to withstand the storm.
With nary a ripple to draw unwanted attention to this area on The Plain of Souls, the being disappeared. It would not do for any to discover that this quiet bonding was the nexus that had the potential to change everything.
Slowly, the vines twined further around the Oak and inched ever upwards, even as several more buds began to bloom.
