THE MEMORYLESS GAUL

Disclaimer: I don't own True Blood or its characters.

Sorry for any errors. I hope you enjoy!

_Flashback_

"It's hot outside." I whine, lips tugging into a pout. "Can't I take these off, Daddy?"

My father kneels down and grabs my glove-covered hand. "You might touch someone by accident. You don't want that do you?"

"I promise to be good!" I beg.

I always have to wear my gloves, even when my hands sweat. Nobody else is wearing gloves with THEIR bathing suit. Not only is it too hot, but I feel stupid. I hate swimming with gloves. It might cool off when I get in the water, but soaking wet gloves are super annoying!

"You can always go back to the hotel and play with Sookie." He offers kindly.

Sookie had to stay in the hotel because the voices would be too loud at a crowed beach. It was hard enough in the hotel. She can barely leave the room.

"No, please!" I shake my head frantically. "I don't wanna go back! I wanna swim with Jason!"

"Then be a good girl and keep the gloves on. Okay, Zelly?" My father's eyes were kind and loving. "I know you hate them, but it's for your own good."

My shoulders slump in defeat. "Yes sir."

He kisses my forehead. "I love you, Zelly. You know that don't you?"

"I know, Daddy. I love you too."

_Flashback Ended_

Sunlight exuded from the pores in my hands. It created a halo-like affect around my tan skin. My glowing hands were in front of me as I gaze at my dead-for-the-day love. His eyes are closed, dark lashes arched toward the ceiling and away from alabaster cheeks. Temptation simmered in my veins. A shot or two is all it would take. He wouldn't be angry with me when he awoke, surely. He would have his memories then; he'd understand why I did it.

Eric is a highly intelligent and capable being, he learned from the best after all. However, that's just it. While he might've learned from the best, he isn't the best. I'd say he's a close second, but STILL just in second place. There's a reason nobody, not even Eric, can beat Godric at a game of chess. He has a highly strategic mind. Godric could use the whole world as a chessboard to achieve a desired outcome if he so chose. He knows how to use people, places, and things to his advantage. Eric does as well, but Godric surpasses him in skill. He can see the usefulness in anything, even things Eric overlooks and dismisses. Like Jason for example.

The crazier things get with the witches, the more I want the real Godric and not his bunny-like doppelgänger. It took monumental effort to "switch off" my sunlight. The glow faded until my hand was just ordinary tan flesh. My heart gave a sorrowful squeeze in my chest at my decision.

You gave your word Flora. I scold myself. Unless he's in danger and needs them remember? The deal wasn't if you needed them. Godric always keeps his word, even when it's difficult, and you should too. The situation might call for it soon, but for now, Godric will remain the way he is.

I stiffen my spine and force myself to walk away. When I climb the latter, I refuse to allow myself a backwards glance at my unconscious Godric, least I become tempted again. Already dressed for work, I grab my purse and head to my sister's room.

"Cookie." I announce, opening the door.

After all the double shifts, my twin was worn out. I needed to give her a recap quickly before doing the same for Hoyt. She can go back to sleep when I'm done.

"Sook." I walk over to the bed and shake her. No response. I shake her blanket-covered arm again. "SOOKIE"

She started. "Wha-? What is it? What's wrong?"

"You wanted me to let you know what Eric said." I respond calmly. "So I was going to do that really quickly. I also have to stop and talk to Hoyt before work."

She was so exhausted that when I blurted everything out, she merely nodded and rolled back over. Within seconds she was asleep again. I knew when I saw her again the conversation wasn't going to be nearly as calm and easy.

Traffic was almost nonexistent this early. I got to my destination in record time, a cute little bricked one-bedroom house. I walk to the door and ring the bell.

"Hey there, Flora." Hoyt greeted. His short hair is trimmed nicely and his eyes are kind. Stubble surrounded his smiling mouth. "Everything okay?"

Sweet, gentle Hoyt balanced the excitable Jessica out nicely. They were perfect for each other.

"You've seen the news right?" I wondered.

His smile faded, a frown replaced it, and worry clouded dark blue eyes. "I was finishing breakfast before work, do you want to come in and talk?"

"I'd like that a lot." I nod. "I have some information. You can tell Jessica when the sun sets."

A bit of relief lifted the weight that had settled on his shoulders at my initial greeting. Hoyt stepped aside, waving me in.

"Are you hungry? I have some leftover eggs." He offered kindly.

My stomach grumbled, reminding me I didn't eat. "Thanks, Hoyt."

When we got situated at the round wooden table in the kitchen, I started the story I told Sookie all over again. Starting with reading Coralie's mind, moving on to the New Era the witches wanted to achieve, and finishing with how I was planning to see Eric again tonight. I answered his worried inquires as best as I could. Then I promised to keep him in the loop when we find anything else out.

"We'll make sure Jessica stays safe." I promise when it was time to leave, lips attempted a comforting smile. "Make sure she doesn't go roaming around too much."

He snorted, a half-smile pulled at his lips. "I'll try."

I gave a little chuckle, knowing how hard it was to control the young vampire. Luckily she's matured a bit in the last year. "Try not to worry too much, Hoyt. I'll see you later okay?"

"Okay, you make sure to stay safe too."

"I'll try." I reply, snorting the same way he did to me a second ago.

Before I forgot, I sent Calvin a quick text as I walk to the car. Thankfully, Eric did send me the number last night. When I hit send, informing him who it was and telling the pack leader I'd call him on my lunchbreak, I drove to work.

The first thing my boss wanted me to do when I got there was help unload the delivery truck and stack shelves. During my lunchbreak, I called Calvin and told the same story for the third time that day. I spent the rest of the day cashiering, much to my disappointment. I'd rather unload boxes and scan documents all day than cashier. People seemed to be dead set on getting on my nerves today.

One lady, honest to God, threatened to call the police because she didn't like our return policy, which requires a receipt. A different woman spent 20 minutes trying to find exact change, completely ignoring the $50 bill I could clearly see. It would have taken 5 seconds for me to get change, but no, she decided to hold up the line and waste my time. Let's not forget the ones who insist on paying with a check and then don't have it filled out by the time I get done ringing them up. Then you always have the customers who think the checkout line is a storage area.

Why do people put the change on the counter instead of my outstretched hand? Can you answer me that? And LORD, don't even get me started on the cheesy jokes. Saying, "I just printed it this morning" while handing me a large bill. When an item doesn't scan and the person goes, "I guess it's free." I hear those LITERALLY every time I am a cashier. Why can't people come up with original jokes anymore?

Then, to make matters worse, an elderly woman came to my line seconds before I was supposed to clock out, with what felt like 5,000 items. As soon as I rung her up I went to kiss my boss goodbye and ran out like my ass was on fire.

The first thing I noticed was an unconscious Sookie in her work uniform when I got home. She was in the backseat of a fancy convertible. The owner of said convertible stood up from the steps and made his way toward me like a man on a mission. By the time I parked and got out, he was just out of my reach.

"Why is Sookie sleeping in your car and not at work?" I wondered.

"She asked to get off early."

Considering everything going on with the witches, I guess Sookie wanted to be in on the discussion at Fangasia this time. That made sense.

I gave him an understanding nod. "I see."

Something, other than the fact that he clearly had something on his mind, was off about Lala. Something that was making the alarm bells in my head go haywire.

"Did the witches have a meeting this afternoon?" When Lala nodded but didn't continue I raise my eyebrows, "And?"

He seemed to shake himself out of a daze, a smile spread across glossy lips. "I need to run some errands really fast, we can talk in the car. Is that okay with you?"

No nickname, slang talk, or flamboyant flare. It was almost like when he was hiding information about Godric all over again, except this time had a different feel.

I eyed him closely. A part of me wanted to reach out and take the information from his head, but that was a really small, overly curious, part. Lafayette will tell me what's wrong when he's ready and I'll respect that.

"I need to be here when Godric gets up."

Lala smiled reassuringly. "It'll only take a moment."

Why did he word it that way? When has he ever said 'it'll only take a moment' in that oddly authoritative, almost paternal way? It honestly felt a little condescending. Something in the air was so weird. Lafayette was being so… so not Lala.

I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'll just keep a close eye on him to see if I can figure out what's wrong for myself.

"If you're sure." I gave him an odd look before moving past him to get to the convertible. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Zelly." He laughed warmly behind me. "You worry too much."

I froze mid step.

My full name is Florizel. Most people, except my grandmother, uses the first part and nicknames me Flora. Sookie sometimes calls me Flo. However, one person used the last part and called me Zelly instead. My father. He was the only person who ever called me that.

I haven't heard it since I was a child.

"What did you call me?" I went to give him a baffled and suspicious look over my shoulder.

Before I can, something stabs me in the neck. It instantly felt like I gained a million pounds. My legs gave out and arms grabbed me. The world gets fuzzy before going dark. Sometime later - how much later exactly is unknown - I slowly start coming to.

A groan escaped my lips.

"You too really can be so in sync sometimes." Lala's voice laughed.

"Wha-?" I try asking.

"Sookie just woke up for a second too." He offered.

Wind whips my hair around crazily. My lids attempt to open, but they were too heavy. I couldn't do it. "Y-you a-aren't," I take a deep breath and try to force the rest of my sentence out, "Lala?"

The tone I used made it seem like a question, but it was obvious this wasn't my best friend.

"I think we both know the answer to that question, Zelly."

"Wha-?"

I tried asking what was going on, what he wanted. Even though I couldn't get it out, he seemed to know exactly what I meant by my unfinished word.

"Sorry it had to come to this. I really am." Lala's voice said mournfully. "But I have to finish this tonight. Thanks to your medium friend I'm finally getting my chance again, I'm not going to waste it."

I used all the energy I could. A second later, I was unconscious once more.

See my days are cold without you

But I'm hurtin' while I'm with you

And though my heart can't take no more

I keep on running back to you

Music and splashing water greets my ears when I wake up again. While I felt a little more energetic this time, my body was still sluggish. My green eyes opened and gaze hazily around. The sky above me is painted with purple and pink. I blink heavily and shake my head.

Baby I don't know why ya treat me so bad

You said you loved me, no one above me

And I was all you had

And though my heart is beating for ya

I can't stop crying

I don't know how

I allow you to treat me this way and still I stay

I sit up and my head falls back against the seat. The angle was incredibly uncomfortable. I take a deep breath and lift my boulder-like head. Which goes to rest on my shoulder as I try turning to look around.

Dammit.

More splashing comes from behind me; I force myself to turn around. I look past the back of the car and toward a lake. My eyes squint, I take in the scene groggily. When it registers what I'm looking at, panic settles in my bones. Lafayette was trying to drown my struggling twin.

No. Not Lafayette. I remembered. That's my father.

Confusion, heartbreak, and betrayal pierced my heart. My father possessed my medium best friend, just to kill us. All these years and I don't even get a 'I missed you Zelly, how's life been?'

I lock my jaw and lift my hand. It shakes and I blink heavily again. With more effort than it usually takes, I make my hand glow with sunlight. It felt weaker than it should be, but it'd do the trick.

Determination hardens my eyes. I aim and fire. It was a miracle that I hit my target. My father was knocked off his feet. Sookie shot out of the water, gasping for breath.

I open the door and fall out of the car. "RUN, SOOKIE!"

I was a little ahead with homework and the creative juices kept pumping. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER!

I was so happy I was able to update again so soon! Thanks for the reviews!