A/N: Okay, cheesy poem, but it was all that I could come up with. Now, I think Shay and Godric are finally having 'the talk'. Except, Godric reveals more than Shay expects.

Chapter 21

The Goddess and the Vampire

Shay trailed her fingertips over Godric's casket. In her mind's eye she could see her lover sleeping peacefully inside. In her mind, she could feel him. It should have scared her, but it didn't. Instead, she found the sensation of being able to feel Godric comforting, like pulling a warm blanket around her shoulders. He was now a part of her that no surgery could ever excise. She smiled. But, he had always been a part of her. She could not remember a time when he was not a part of her life. Life after life, it was the same. Her love for Godric was never diminished. She stood back as the Anubis Airline people came over to move the casket to a waiting shuttle. Trailing behind them, she moved across the hanger. She was not supposed to be in here. Rules and official airline policy were spouted to her. She was unmoved and stubborn. This airplane that they had flown on was mainly rigged to transport the undead. Caskets were laid out in what would be the passenger seating. Only a few seats were available for those who were of the living, breathing type of customer. Upon arrival, she should have gone down the steps into the waiting area. But, Godric did not leave her sight when he was in this vulnerable state. So, she had exited the plane and stayed in the hanger while Godric was unloaded. Rules be damned, she thought. As her heels clicked over the concrete floor, a man stepped in front of her.

"Shay Kavanaugh?" he asked, with his eyes roving over her.

Shay slowed, but did not completely stop. "Yes?"

"If you will come this way, I have a car waiting to take you to the hotel," he said.

Shay looked at him. He had brown hair and eyes and appeared to be in his thirties. He wore an expensive dark suit and his hair was perfectly styled.

"I travel with Godric," she replied. "The airline shuttle will take us both to the hotel."

Instead of ditching the man, he trailed after her. "It seems that the stories of your devotion are true."

"Excuse me?" asked Shay. She had arrived at the shuttle and she watched the casket being loaded inside. She turned her eyes to this man. Just who was he?

"The vampire rumor mill has been buzzing about you," he said with a smile. "The human who melted a two thousand year old vampire's heart."

"I didn't realize that vampires were so desperate and bored to indulge in such idle gossip," she replied.

"Far from idle," he said with a smirk.

Shay realized that she didn't like that smirk at all. "A human vampire bride doesn't happen everyday," he added.

"Just who are you?" Shay demanded. "And how do you know that Godric and I are…married."

"Everybody knows that little detail," he replied. "It's not like it some sort of secret."

Shay remembered the official ceremony at Godric's old nest, presided over by Isabel and in front of several of the vampires who lived there. She also remembered their private ceremony the night before with a blush. Making love after that bonding had been like an out of body experience. Now, making love with Godric had always been an earth-shaking moment. But, they had touched each other on a deeper level than ever before that night. She felt the beginnings of arousal start. Don't deny it, she told herself, you want a repeat performance as soon as the sun goes down.

"That doesn't tell me who you are," said Shay.

"I'm Paul Bryant," he said. "I work for the sheriff here. He sent me to make sure that you and Godric are settled in to the hotel. I also have the case files for him to look over."

Once Godric was loaded into the back of the shuttle, Shay moved inside as the driver held the door for her. Paul climbed in on the seat after her and she noticed that he carried a briefcase for the first time. Once on the seat, he opened it and pulled out a large file, which he passed over to her. Shay took it and placed on her lap as Paul continued to stare at her. Perhaps, being in such close contact with vampires had caused him to forget that it wasn't polite to stare.

"It isn't polite to stare," said Shay, reminding him of his human manners.

"Sorry," said Paul, not taking his eyes off her. "But, I admit to being one of those who are curious about you."

"I certainly don't merit such interest," replied Shay. "I'm just an ordinary person."

"Hardly," he said. "A human that The Authority, itself, has taken notice of? Humans are beneath their consideration. Except for you."

What was he talking about? Shay couldn't stop a chill of fear from traveling down her spine. She willed herself to relax for, even in this state, Godric could sense her fear. She faced Paul again and he sat staring at her, like some scientist who was examining a new species of insect. She wasn't anyone's entertainment. She felt like telling the driver to pull over to the curb and dump Mr. Nosey Pants out on the curb. But, this man knew things about her. Things that she didn't know.

"Why would The Authority be interested in me?"

"They are interested in Godric because he is one of the ancient ones," replied Paul. "Therefore, by default, they are interested in you."

Well, that explanation made sense, thought Shay. She couldn't deny that she felt a degree of fear about that shadowy organization that seemed to rule over vampires. She also didn't trust their motives or their true intentions. She glanced at Paul to see if he would divulge any other pertinent information, but he gazed out the window in an introspective mood.

"Of course, not everyone is your fan," he said.

That chill of fear passed down her spine again. "Why would they even care about me? I'm just Godric's human."

"Oh, I believe that you are much more than that," he said, turning away from the window and relaxing back into the seat. "It's the prophecy that they fear. Vampires are such a superstitious bunch for thinking of themselves as being a higher evolved species."

"Prophecy?"

"Yes," he replied.

Shay waited for him to elaborate, but he settled further into the seat. Irritating man, thought Shay. One minute, she couldn't get him to shut up and then when she wanted him to talk, he decides to clam up. Another minute of silence passed and Paul finally decided to speak. He began reciting a poem.

"Borne of tears and clad in a veil of sorrow

She walks the earth, tomorrow after tomorrow

She can't be bound by the ties of Death

Magic flows from her with every breath

See her with your inner sight, for she is more than what she seems

The past is but a mystery to be remembered in her dreams

A forgotten Goddess of ancient lore reborn

One of two souls, asunder, that were torn

When she finds her true love, together they will bind

Immortal and Immortal, bound as one in kind

An ancient vampire will give her his cold heart

Her love will transform him and set him apart

A vampire's rare love will break the curse

He shall remember the love that was his first

In his arms, she will again rise

Change she brings, be she not unwise

Forever and ever, two shall be as one

The magic she has wrought cannot be undone."

When Paul finished, he turned his eyes on her. They studied her quietly and Shay nervously clutched the file on her lap.

"Just what was that?"

"Just some old vampire folk tale," he said. "It's called The Goddess and the Vampire. I read through my master's library when I have time. He had quite an old collection of unusual things."

"I don't see what that has to do with me," replied Shay. Okay, she did see some rather unsettling parallels to her own experiences in that poem, but she wasn't about to admit that to Paul.

"Of course," he said. "I mean, you are just a human, I suppose."

Sunset

Shay waited in the doorway as the seconds to sunset ticked off. She could feel Godric stirring inside her head. The sensation tickled and raised goose-pimples on her arms. She knew the moment his eyes opened and she knew that she was his first thought. With a whoosh, the casket lid opened and Godric sat up. Face to face with her love, her heart seemed to swell inside her chest. His simple presence soothed her and made her feel happy. She was completely hooked, she thought with a smile. Even though she didn't know how it was possible, her feelings for Godric seemed to grow day by day. But, after their bonding something momentous had occurred. Their feelings for each other had entered a new level of intimacy. Godric smiled and moved in front of her in a flash. So fast, that his movements caused the air in the room to stir.

"I know that you are showing off for me," she said.

He pulled her into his arms and she gasped aloud at the new senses that he had given her. She felt so many wonderful things. Her knees went weak as Godric's feelings passed over her. So strong, just like he was, she thought. They seemed to surround her and caress her senses. She closed her eyes and tendrils of his mind reached out and stroked her own mind. No one's touch had ever been like this.

"I've never felt anything as wonderful as this," she said, reaching up to smooth his soft hair.

"I wanted you to know what it felt like for me to feel your love flow over me," said Godric.

He kissed her, softly with promise, and then lifted her into his arms. Striding over to the bed, Shay protested, "Wait, we have places that we have to be, tonight."

"I have something more important to do," replied Godric. "From sunrise to sunset, I have been without your touch. That's much too long."

As he laid her on the bed, Shay smiled and held onto him. "Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?"

"You can't because I know that you find me simply irresistible."

Shay closed her eyes with a shiver. "You naughty vampire. I can sense those wicked thoughts of yours."

"Wicked?" replied Godric, beginning to disrobe her. "I assure that bad boy vampires aren't the only ones who crave passionate, hot sex."

He revealed her lacy, pink bra and dropped his fangs. "Especially, when such a lovely temptation is close by."

Shay closed her eyes and sighed with desire. Godric leaned down and blew into her ear and watched as her body shivered in reply.

"H-how do you do that?" she gasped.

"We are as one," replied Godric. "What I feel causes a reaction in you. I have you right where I want you."

Shay's green eyes fluttered open to half-mast and she gazed at him through the curtain of her lashes. "And where is that?"

"Under my spell," he replied. He kissed her again. "Do you want to escape?"

"Not a chance," whispered Shay, pulling him in close.

"That's good," he said. "Because my cold vampire heart won't show you any mercy. You're not getting away from me."

"Promise?" breathed Shay, moving against him.

"Oh, yes," replied Godric, moving at enhanced speed to remove the rest of her clothing. In the dim light, he gazed upon her naked body. No matter how often he saw it, he always felt as if he were seeing it for the first time. His eyes traveled over the curves and planes of her body. They took in the smooth flesh and firm muscles underneath. She was perfection itself. He had never seen another so beautifully formed. She was more lovely than all the representations of the ancient goddesses of love and beauty.

"I don't want your mercy," said Shay with a teasing voice.

"What do you want, then?"

Shay's hand reached out and caressed him. Her fingers trailed over his hardened length. "This," she said.

He tingled as his body mirrored her lust and he swore that his blood grew heated within him. With her other hand, Shay touched his heart.

"And this," she said.

Under her fingers, his long dead heart seemed to flutter as if it were trying to remember how to beat. He groaned at the sensation. Shay was a memory that even his body couldn't forget, he thought.

"That was always yours," he managed to say.

Shay's teasing eyes gazed into his. "Make love to me," she said. "I feel like I just might die if you don't touch me."

"We can't have that," murmured Godric into her ear, as he lowered his body onto hers.

After a tryst that resulted in twisted sheets, Shay trailed her fingers over Godric's chest. She had never felt as close to anyone else before and the sex with him was just as fantastic as that night that they had bound with each other. A wash of contentment swelled over her and she wasn't sure if it had come from Godric or herself. This vampire in her arms was what she had been searching for all her life. They completed each other and she snuggled a little closer. Godric kissed her shoulder and began to sit up.

"We should probably get moving," he said.

Just as he started to get up, Shay reached for his hand. She held the sheet over her breasts and drew up her knees. Godric looked at her with curious eyes.

"Godric, I think that we need to talk," she said.

"We are already late," he reminded her.

"Then, a little longer won't matter," said Shay. She clasped his hands in hers and looked down on their linked hands. Godric gently pushed her hair out of her face.

"What is it, Shay?"

Shay nibbled her lower lip. "Did you marry me just to protect me?"

"Surely, you can sense that is not the truth," he said.

"I sense so many things and I haven't learned how to understand this bond between us very well," said Shay. She looked up at Godric and searched those eyes that she knew so well. "But, I do feel that you are trying to protect me."

"I will admit that I want to protect you," said Godric. Shay attempted to pull away her hand and Godric held onto it. "But, I want to protect you because I can't imagine my life without you. You are my reason for being here."

"But, why do I need protection?" asked Shay. "Is it because of The Authority?"

Godric frowned. "Who has been talking to you?"

"Is it true, then?"

"I didn't want you to worry," replied Godric, lowering his eyes. "And, I wanted you to enjoy this time with me without a cloud over us."

Shay lifted his eyes back to hers with a hand on his chin. "You shouldn't have tried to carry such a burden on your own. I fully capable of carrying my fair share."

A tortured look came into Godric's eyes. "I only wanted you to be happy."

"I am, truly," replied Shay. "But, I want you to level with me. This is a fifty-fifty relationship and I'm no shrinking violet."

Godric gave a little half-smile. "No, I don't suppose you would be afraid of anything."

"So, tell me," said Shay. "Because, I would rather hear it from you than someone else."

"The Authority has ordered me to make you a vampire," said Godric, almost blurting it out.

Shay couldn't stop an audible inhalation of breath. "But, why would they care about me?"

"It has something to do with me and I'm….I'm sorry," said Godric, looking away from her.

Shay turned him back around and held him in her hands. She was angry that Godric had been keeping this from her when it hurt him so much. She could feel his sorrow and how he was agonizing over what had happened. Her brave vampire, she thought. He was so used to being alone that he didn't know how to ask for help. She pulled him into her arms and held onto him tightly. Slowly, his arms wrapped around her and his head rested on her shoulder.

"You don't have to be alone, anymore," whispered Shay. "I'll take care of you."

Fiercely into her ear, he said, "No one can force me to do this. I won't ever let anyone harm you."

Shay pulled back and tried to make sense of all the different things that she felt. She leaned in and kissed him as she held his face in her hands.

"So, you don't want to do that?" she asked.

"My feelings are complicated," replied Godric. "I never dreamed of finding you and I can't seem to stop the flood of emotions that swirl around me, nevermind, understand them."

Shay kissed his nose and smiled. "I guess that I did this to you, huh?"

"I just wanted more time for us to get used to being with one another," said Godric. "I knew what my heart wished for, but I wanted you understand all the ramifications of such a decision. There was no going back from such a thing."

Shay was puzzled for a moment. Godric was speaking in the past tense. "Has something changed between us?" Shay asked.

Godric tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He seemed to fidget which was a very unvampire-like gesture. "Shay, when we bonded, I felt something. I mean that I've always felt something when I'm around you. Something that made you seem different, but with that added perception from my blood, that feeling could not be ignored."

"What are you getting at?"

"Your mind isn't exactly human, Shay," he said.

"Of course, I'm human," replied Shay. "Don't be silly."

Godric's eyes stared into her and she could feel the pull of his mind on hers. "Are you sure about that?" he asked. "Your mind is unlike anyone else's that I've ever touched. It is unique. Will you allow me a demonstration?"

Something inside her wanted to coil down and hide. But, this was the vampire she loved, she trusted him and nodded her head.

"Good," he said. "Stare into my eyes and don't look away."

Shay did as he said and, suddenly, she felt the touch of Godric's mind even stronger. He spoke and his voice seemed to be like velvet as it caressed her senses. Listen to me and obey, she heard, even though Godric didn't say those words. "Shay, I want you to dance around the room, naked, and sing a little song."

"I can't carry a tune," replied Shay, blinking her eyes and smiling. "And the only way that I'm dancing in this state is if you do it with me."

"See my point?" asked Godric. "I can't glamour you and if I can't do it, then no one else can."

"But, I don't think that proves anything."

"All humans can be glamoured, Shay," said Godric. "You can't. I think that whatever has happened to you has changed you. You aren't human anymore, if you ever were to begin with."

Shay's breath caught as she remembered that stupid poem. It was just a bunch of superstitious nonsense, she told herself. Who would have ever thought that vampires were such nervous Nellies.

"But, I had a mother and father, a human mother and father," insisted Shay.

"You've been born over and over again," said Godric. "The only things that do that are immortal."

"But, I died," said Shay.

"Did you really?" asked Godric. "Because you don't look dead to me. Drusilla and Anne couldn't remember who they were. They acted as they believed themselves to be. Yet, even so, Drusilla stayed here in this world after her death and, even in death, she had the power to exert her influence."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I believe the cycle of life and death is over for you," said Godric. "You have finally discovered the truth. That you are just as immortal as your soul."

A/N: We know that what happened to Shay changed her. But, did it change her or restore her?

True Bood introduced Maenads, so I don't think that it would be a stretch for a pagan god or goddess to still be kicking around in the world.