A/N: This chapter has more of Anne's story from Godric's POV. Shay and Eric gather information and capture a fleeing disciple.

Chapter 10

Gainful Employment

Godric passed his eyes over the human girl. Sarah Newlin had sent her to keep him company by reading the Bible with him. She seemed young to his eyes, but then, most humans did. Soft brown hair and pretty eyes were her best features. She hardly seemed like the type to want to haul him out into the sun. But, for the most part, the humans that he had encountered here had seemed so ordinary. Her name was Emma and, as she droned on, Godric slipped away and was lost in time.

He returned to Anne. He remembered escorting her to the estate that night in the dark. When the large imposing house and grounds came into view, she had started to hang back.

"I'm sorry, My Lord, but I don't think that this is such a good idea," she said.

"It's Godric," he replied.

He didn't know why he was bringing her here. He had stopped Eric's attack on her because harming someone so close to their nest was not a wise move. Yet, he had continued a contact with her even when he knew that he shouldn't have. It didn't do to get attached to humans. They were food and sometimes served other tasks that a vampire needed. Yet, for some reason, he could not forget the brave shepherdess that his path had crossed.

"We don't have guests very often," he said. "So, this is a special treat."

He reached out and took her arm and propelled her forward. Once inside, a servant had taken his jacket and he led the way to the library. It was a dark paneled room and shelves of books lined the walls. Anne quickly forgot her reluctance. At that time, books were rare among the poorer common folk. They were a luxury for those better off who had the leisure and means to enjoy them. A smile of pleasure graced Anne's pretty face and he knew that such smiles were a rare occurrence in her life.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" came a voice from behind them.

Anne turned and saw Eric. He was wearing the formal attire of a landed gentry, although he left the shirt open to reveal a glimpse of his chest. A little half smile played across his lips as he eyed Anne. She dipped into a graceful curtsy, which she held with a bowed head.

"My Lord," she said.

Her manners were impeccable and proof of her once better fortunes, he thought. Eric stepped forward and lifted her from the curtsy with a finger to her chin. Those beautiful green eyes of hers stared into his and she took a step back from him.

"This is Anne, our neighbor," he said.

"So, this is a friendly visit?" asked Eric.

Eric turned his eyes to him with a questioning gaze. Eric probably still wants to taste her, he thought. Her blood would, no doubt, be quite delicious.

"She's our guest," he replied.

"I see," replied Eric, with a slight look of disappointment, which Anne didn't see.

"Anne is quite educated. I do think that we could find her more intellectually engaging employment here than with a herd of sheep," he said.

"Is that so?" said Eric.

"I…I didn't come here to beg for charity," said Anne.

"That's good, because I'm not offering you charity," he said. "Your skills are very valuable. It's a respectable position with a good salary."

"I don't know what to say, My Lord," replied Anne.

"Say that you will accept because I'm tired of handling the chore of all the correspondence and bookkeeping that this estate generates," he replied.

Anne looked down and clutched her simple dress. "I'm could not accept such a position, My Lord. I would not fit in, here."

"A new wardrobe will change all that," he replied. "You belong here in this mansion, more than you ever did with a flock of sheep."

"Well, it seems as if everything is settled, then," said Eric. "I'll have a room prepared for her."

Anne curtsied again and Eric left the room. He smiled and said, "Did I mention that you get unlimited use of the library with this job?"

A Dance in the Moonlight

And so, Anne has assumed a position in their household. She was careful to remain politely respectful and stayed within the strict social boundaries of that time. His child also kept whatever curiosity about her blood to himself. They did all their hunting away from their home and so were able to keep their secret from Anne. If she was curious about their nocturnal schedule, she never commented. The sight of Anne in his home became one that he felt that he was becoming much too accustomed to. A nagging doubt always existed, which told him to find her another job and send her away. Yet, he did not. Nothing ever good ever came from a relationship between a human and a vampire, he told himself. But, when he looked into her eyes, he forgot his previous rules and made an exception for her.

Everything went fine until the night of the ball. Anne had been instrumental in handling many of the arrangements, but she had retired to her chambers during the affair. Or so, he had thought.

While escaping for some fresh air, he had watched the scene between his child and Anne enfold. Anne had snuck outside to the gardens and watched the dancing inside from a hidden spot. Maybe, Eric had escaped for the same reason that he had. Eric had found Anne hidden in the shadows.

"Lying in wait in order to capture your prey?" he asked her.

Anne shot upright and a red flush spread across her cheeks. She was obviously embarrassed at being caught spying. There amidst a flowerbed, Anne dropped into a formal curtsy and Eric couldn't stop the smile that such a sight provoked.

"I'm sorry, but I just wanted to watch the gentlemen and ladies in their beautiful gowns dance for a little while," she said.

"Wouldn't it be more fun to join in?" asked Eric.

"That would not be proper," replied Anne.

"Why not?" asked Eric. "Please, stand up, Anne. You're causing my neck to strain by having to talk down to you."

Anne stood upright and nervously clutched the folds of her skirt in her hands. She lifted her eyes to Eric.

"Do you want to know the difference between them and you, Anne?" he asked her.

Anne looked at him curiously and Eric added, "There is none, except you are probably better than them or, at least, smarter."

"My Lord is too kind," said Anne.

"No, I'm not," replied Eric.

Eric studied Anne as she stood there in the moonlight. He stepped forward and pulled her out of the flowerbed. But, he didn't release her hand.

"It's a shame to waste that music on spying from a flowerbed," he said.

Without waiting for her reply, Eric began to dance with her to the music that could be plainly heard outside. In the darkness of the gardens, they moved to the formal steps of the dance until Eric whirled her in a circle. Anne's surprised laughter rang out.

"May I cut in?" he asked.

Eric let go of Anne and her momentum caused her to swing out and her skirt twirled up and exposed rather lovely ankles. She clutched her skirt back to her sides and gazed at him with wide eyes as if she had been caught in some sort of wrongdoing. Eric gave a small smile and departed.

"I'm sorry, I should not be out here," said Anne.

"You danced beautifully, Anne," he replied. "But, perhaps, it's time for you to retire."

"Of course, Sir," said Anne.

"Allow me to escort you," he had said. "You wouldn't mind walking through the gardens with me, first, would you?"

"No, not at all," said Anne with a small smile.

He held out his hand and Anne slowly slipped her warm one into his. He had always worn gloves before whenever he might have come into contact with her, so the touch of her hand on his bare skin caused a reaction. He felt something in that touch, something that bothered him. It was like the sensation you felt when there was a word at the tip of your tongue, but you couldn't remember it. He looked up from their hands to see Anne staring into his eyes. There inside those green eyes was the answer some voice inside him said. He shrugged it off and escorted her down the path. There were other vampires present among the guests tonight. It wouldn't do for one of them to come across Anne, alone and unprotected, he thought. She was a temptation that few could resist.

"Are you alright?" asked Emma.

He regretfully let go of his memories and turned to the human girl seated near him.

"Yes, of course," he said.

"You looked as if you were somewhere miles away from here," replied Emma.

He was silent as he stared down at the Bible in his hands. Emma surprised him by gently taking it from him.

"Godric, can I really talk to you?" she asked.

"I thought that we were talking," he replied.

"I say things and you listen, or look like you are listening, but we don't really communicate with each other," she said.

"What is it that you want to say to me?" he asked.

"I was handpicked by my pastor to come here for this course," said Emma. "I used to see the world in terms of black and white and good and evil. But, I find myself discovering that things aren't that simple."

"It's hard to believe in absolutes when you've lived as long as I have," he replied.

"Godric, the Reverend Newlin isn't telling you something. Suicide is considered to be a grave sin. Life is meant to be a precious gift from God," she said.

"What if God didn't have anything to do with this life?" he asked.

"How can you be sure of that?" she asked. "I don't understand why you are so willing to let them destroy you."

"Isn't it better to offer myself?" he asked.

"Please, leave this place," said Emma. "I know that you could if you wanted to."

"I can't," he said.

Emma looked down at her Bible and she seemed to be lost in thought. After several moments, she raised her eyes back to his.

"I must say goodbye, now, because I won't be there at the ceremony. I couldn't bear to watch you die," said Emma.

She got up and walked to the door, but turned back and said, "I'll pray for you, Godric. I won't ever see you, again, but I will never forget you."

The Interrogation

Emma tugged her backpack tighter. She had taken just what she could fit in her backpack. Because she had been one of the few who knew about Godric, she knew that she would not be allowed to leave the Fellowship until after the ceremony. She was not staying here a minute longer. She didn't belong here, anymore. Maybe Godric had sinned. But, it wasn't for them to judge him. She ducked behind a bush, as a patrol walked by. The compound was heavily guarded at night when the vampires were active. It would have been easier to leave in the daytime, but she didn't want to wait. The Fellowship had confiscated her cell phone upon arrival and strictly controlled all means of outside communication. But, her keen eyes had noticed a convenience store down the road when her bus had driven her to this place. There had to be a phone there that she could call her parents with. Once the patrol past, Emma once again moved in stealth.

So, it came as a complete surprise when a woman and man appeared out of nowhere and blocked her path. They were both dressed in black, but the man's blonde hair stood out in the dim light of the moon. He was also very pale. Emma stepped back away from them, but she didn't scream because she didn't want to attract the guards.

"Out for an evening stroll?" asked Eric.

"Stay away or I'll scream," replied Emma.

"I'm surprised that you already haven't," he said. "You must be running away."

"I just want out of here, now, let me pass," said Emma.

"Oh, I will," replied Eric. "After I get what I want."

"You're scaring her," chided Shay.

"You can critique my performance, later," replied Eric.

Eric moved in a flash before the girl and both Shay and Emma gasped. Emma's eyes widened and, as she looked at Eric, he captured her in his gaze.

"We just want to ask you some questions," said Eric, not breaking eye contact. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No," said Emma.

"Excellent," said Eric. "Now, is the vampire called Godric here?"

"Yes," replied Emma. "He's in the church basement."

"Are they holding him prisoner?" asked Eric.

"Yes, but I'm sure that he could get away if he tried," replied Emma.

"Is he alright?" asked Shay.

"He is physically fine," replied Emma.

Eric was seemingly lost in thought as to why his maker would not try to escape. Shay stepped forward and said, "I want you to draw a diagram of the church and it's basement for me."

She handed the girl the notebook and a pen. Emma began to draw on the paper as Shay watched.

"Why would Godric stay there?" asked Shay.

"I do not know," replied Eric.

When Emma passed the notebook and pen back to Shay, she asked Emma, "What are they planning to do with Godric?"

"They are going to put him on a cross before dawn on the festival and watch as the sunlight burns him away," said Emma.

Shay clutched at Eric's arm until she realized that she was doing it. She let him go and Eric could hear her take several deep breaths as she tried to calm down.

"I couldn't be a part of that, anymore," said Emma. "That's why I'm running away."

Eric and Shay both stared at the girl. She stood there, hardly older than a child and as helpless before them as a lamb.

"Where were you going?" asked Shay.

"Home," said Emma.

"We can take you home," said Shay.

"What?" replied Eric. "We have found out that Godric is inside the Fellowship and you want me to ferry her home?"

Shay looked at her watch and said, "There's not enough time to do anything, tonight. And you don't just rush in some place like that without a plan in place. They won't hurt Godric until the ceremony."

"Are you willing to risk his life on that assumption?" asked Eric.

Shay was torn by what she wanted to do and by what common sense told her to do. Rushing in there blindly would result in someone getting hurt or even killed. She was actually surprised that Eric hadn't disappeared in that weird vampire movement the moment that he had discovered that Godric was inside. If he had stayed that meant that he could be reasoned with. As long as she made sense, of course, Shay thought.

"I can guess what you want to do. And I'm certain that you could probably kill anyone that got in your way," said Shay. "But, I don't think that is what Godric would want."

"Do you know him so well?" asked Eric.

Shay looked inward and thought of all the things that she had been shown. Did she know him? A part of her said that she did.

As she stood there with her thoughts, Eric said, "Tomorrow night will be different. Plan or not, I'm going in there."

Shay nodded in agreement and, together with Emma, they walked out to their car. They had driven Emma home since she lived in the Dallas area. Eric gave her the memory that a good Samaritan had given her a lift home. He took away her memory of them and given her the command to not warn the Fellowship about them. He turned the car back in the direction of the Hotel Carmilla.

"That's a nifty trick," said Shay.

"It comes in handy," replied Eric.

Shay yawned and tried to cover it up. "I'm not used to these hours," she said.

"You'll get used to it," replied Eric.

As they drove along, Shay said, "You need to turn at the next exit and take the road south to 1435."

Eric looked over at her curiously and said, "And, who lives at that address?"

"The janitorial supervisor for the Fellowship," replied Shay.

"How do you know that?" asked Eric.

"Simple. His name is listed in the directory on the Fellowship's website. I simply looked up his address on the internet," said Shay.

She gave Eric a little smile and added, "I have this feeling that a housekeeping job is going to miraculously appear with my name on it."

"I can't argue with your faith," replied Eric. "Nor, can I argue with that cunning mind of yours."

"Like it?" asked Shay.

"I do," replied Eric.

"It comes in handy, sometimes," said Shay with a grin.

A/N: I loved Godric's flashback. There is something about Anne that caused him to make an exception for her. She is somehow familiar to him, but he just doesn't realize it.

Emma kind of tugged at my heartstrings. It would be hard to start doubting everything that you had believed in. Yet, in her own way, she did help Godric.

Eric and Shay are turning out to be a good team. We can see the respect that is building between them.