RECAP (I'm including this because it's been a while and I myself had to go back and re-read everything to continue with the plot I had originally intended. I didn't want to miss any details, and if I did feel free to correct me! Thanks again to everyone for your patience. I really appreciate it, I do. In the recap, I've also included answers to some questions I received in the comments.):

After the defeat of Kukulkan back in Mexico, the dynamic between everybody changed. Eric had a sudden and unusual taking to Itza, who no longer had any family thanks to Eric's massacre of the Mayan village. Also, the fact that his Maker was back in the picture made him draw back from Crystal...with whom he had an intense passionate dominating sexual war with for a night. What they had was more than just witty word-play, and he didn't want to overcomplicate their relationship by making it into a love-triangle. Crystal, however, felt dejected and hurt by his sudden coldness and instead reverted to hatred towards him, as she knew no other way to deal with the fact that she missed what they had. Godric felt deeply betrayed by Eric, as well as Crystal after she shared a few choice words about vampires. After weeks of separation, Godric confronted Crystal at the bookstore where she worked and after conversation they reunited by making love atop the hood of his car in the rain on the side of the road (no better way to do it than that folks!). Crystal's mother, Maria, gains interest in the Fellowship of the Sun, and an irritated Crystal admits she's in love with a vampire. Shocked and horrified, Maria banishes her daughter from her home. Crystal seeks solace in Godric, who offers his home to her. She breaks the news to him that she got accepted into her dream college in Arizona, and that she wants him to come with her, but he is conflicted in leaving his post as Sheriff in Dallas for a human, and how the vampire community will take to such a thing. Sookie gladly offers her home to Itza until she can make enough money to stand on her own feet. Itza cannot get Eric out of her mind, although he attacked her, but she's warned by those around her that he wouldn't waste his time with someone like her. After eavesdropping on a conversation between Eric, Godric, and Sookie...Crystal and Itza find out that Bill has been kidnapped by Werewolves. Later, while hanging out deep in the forestry of Bon Temps, a Were attacks Itza and Crystal, and they find their way back to Sookie's home, only to encounter another Were, who Godric and Eric rip to bloody shreds. After a long discussion, Crystal offers her help in finding Bill in Jackson, as she knows what it feels like to have someone you love taken from you so suddenly. Godric, aware of the strength and status of these Weres, decides to go, unable to bear the thought of Crystal being killed...however, he has his own reasons as well. Deciding that Crystal's power would be excellent protection, should he be unable to reach her, Godric decides to train her, as well as Itza...since he and Eric have realized that she has some form of supernatural ability, albeit not one as pronounced as Crystal and Sookie. However, the training doesn't get too far, as an unspeakable evil causes Crystal to nearly kill Godric in a rage she couldn't understand. We discover that Itza is a Psionic Vampire, a person whom is able to rapidly drain someone by way of interacting with their emotions. Crystal's abilities have no specific category of Supe, she just has the powerful blood of a centuries old god in her veins, which causes her abilities to be a bit more of a disability due to their wild-card nature.

The next evening, there was a pregnant silence that filled the room as Crystal stared up at the darkness that encompassed the light-tight room. Her fingers were still interlocked with Godric's, though his grip was now lifeless. She had awakened in the midst of a nightmare an hour before, and couldn't bear to close her eyes and face the evil that raided her subconscious mind. Her fingers softly stroked the top of Godric's hand, and her mind felt unusually unstable. After last night, she felt as though she weren't in control of her power that had seemed like such a blessing before. She now understood that it was getting dark, and it presented itself more as a curse. A silent tear escaped her eye and she used her free hand to wipe it away.

Despite her homicidal act of violence, Godric had quietly taken to feeding her enough of his blood to heal the pain of the training blows she had suffered. He kept her calm and tucked her into bed and held her until she fell asleep, but the entire time she could feel that something was different between them. He didn't discuss the events prior; he merely cared for her silently. She didn't bring the events up; she just tried to keep from crying.

His hand, enveloped within her own, tightened, and she realized he was now awake. There was movement in the bed and the bedside lamp was turned on.

"Have you rested well?" He asked, turning over to her and propping himself up on his elbow.

"As well as I could." She replied, not making eye contact with him, for fear of releasing whatever could have been inside of her.

"You're afraid." He leaned forward and brushed one of her messy curls out of her face, caressing her cheek.

"I've had more of your blood. I forgot about it giving me away." She tried to be humorous, but it came off more sorrowful. As though she didn't deserve his blood. As though she didn't deserve his company. Self-pity was a disgusting beast that was roaring loud inside of her mind.

"I know that wasn't you last night, my love." He said. It was the first time the topic of last night had been brought up, and she winced.

"I know it wasn't. And that's what scares me." She said.

"Why won't you look at me?" Godric asked, his voice laden with confused hurt.

Crystal sighed, "I don't want it to happen again."

"Just because there is darkness to your power doesn't mean the end of us. Notice, it only came forth after we had provoked it as such. It was a natural defense mechanism." He sat up against the headboard of the bed, but still, Crystal's eyes were stubbornly locked on the ceiling.

"That wasn't natural. That was pure evil. And it's there, inside of me somewhere. What if I fight some of these Weres and Vampires and it comes from me again? What if it stays there for good? Maybe I should just-"

Godric interrupted her. "Leave? Leave this life and try to go on normally? Yes. Maybe that is what you should do. But, as selfish as it may sound, I love you and I don't want you to even consider that option. All it takes is self-control Crystal. I could rampage and kill humans just for game as I once did, but I have gained self-control over that part of me. I see the error in those ways and I choose to go against them." He took her hand in his own and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You had over two thousand years to perfect that." She sighed, unable to make the connection. Godric positioned himself closer to her in the bed and slid down so he was lying directly next to her.

"You aren't going to make me beg are you?" He asked.

"Godric, I can't do this anymore." She said, refusing to look at him.

He let out an unnecessary breath, "Yes, apparently you are." He answered his own question. He snaked his arm across her waist, pulling her closer and he laid sweet kisses in the crook of her neck.

"That won't work on me." She shrugged him off, biting the inside of her lower lip.

"Lying won't do you any good Crystal." He ran his hand back and forth across her waist, moving up to her earlobe and nibbling it gently. "Do you know how long it's been since we've made love?" He whispered softly in her ear, his hands traveling underneath the blanket and across her thighs, making sure not to touch her center.

"It's barely been a week." She exhaled.

"That's too long."

The T-Mobile jingle disturbed the peace of the room. Crystal turned around and gave Godric a confused look. He had a phone, of course. However, it was only used as needed; and for him those moments were rare. He reached over and answered it, while she watched him intently.

"Hello?" He was already aware from the caller ID that it was his progeny. His reasoning, however, was a mystery at this point.

"I am unable to accompany you to Mississippi." Eric said, his voice terse, his words cryptic. He sat inside of the brand new SV9 Competizione Corvette, his arm resting on the door as he glanced up at the home of one of his most valued assets to getting rid of the V that had landed him in an unkind situation with the Queen and Magister. "Something recently came up within my Area."

Godric understood a need for elusive speech in case Eric was in front of someone, but he was still wary. "Is everything alright?" He asked.

Eric beeped the loud, high-pitched horn three times. "Yes." Was his only reply.

"I do not question your authority, my child, however I do want to remind you that a significant vampire within your Area has gone missing. I am aware that you prefer not to get involved within 'human affairs', and though Miss Stackhouse is a pleasant young woman, I myself would not be in attendance if this was not beneficial to me or anyone wherein my loyalty lies." Godric reminded Eric of the great lengths they had gone through to find the vampire leader of the vastly dangerous Operation Werewolf. This was another opportunity to pick up where they left off, as he knew Eric had been more driven that he was those many many years ago.

"Bill Compton will be found. I assure you this." Eric was very aware of the consequences if the vampire linking himself and the queen to the selling of V was not found. "I only ask that you keep Itza out of harm's way." He added, quietly, grudgingly.

Godric raised a brow, genuinely surprised at his request. He began to wonder what exactly his child saw in the young girl to have kept her around this long. Surely his debt to her would have been paid off by finding her a suitable place to stay. "I am not her keeper; but I am not heartless either. I will do my best."

"That is all I ask." Eric closed his cellphone, just in time to see Lafayette coming down the stairs, holding his gold satin bathrobe closed tightly as he gave Eric an apprehensive look. He had every right to, days earlier, Eric's progeny, Pam, had cornered him in a freezer and demanded that he sell every bit of V he owned, in one night.

"Hello sweetheart." Eric said with a vague smirk as he gently patted the passenger's seat of the car he was intending on giving to Lafayette. "Hop in."

Godric set his phone on the nightstand and pushed himself out of bed. "We need to get to Miss Stackhouse's home."

Crystal followed suit, albeit curiously. "What happened with Eric?" She asked, hoping he'd answer her straight for once.

Godric looked up at met her gaze, "He has to take care of another issue that has occurred in his Area."

She frowned, "Convenient timing, don't you think?"

"In such a Were-populated area, it is probably best we have as few vampires in tow as possible. Plus, we cannot forget he is a Sheriff, he has a job to uphold; as do I. The moment Isabel calls me with a problem that is beyond her authority, I must report back to Dallas immediately."

Crystal nodded in understanding as she busied herself with making the bed. She watched him out the side of her vision as he checked his phone once more, a concerned look crossing his features only for a second or two. He set the phone down and pulled his shirt off. "I'm taking a shower." He vamped into the bathroom and she was left with nothing but silence until she heard the faint noise of water running.

Crystal made her way around the bed, patting the comforter all the way around until she caught a glimpse of the phone screen glinting in the lamplight. She looked over her shoulder at the closed bathroom door and reached for the cellphone, opening it as her heart raced with adrenaline.

"Fuck. It's all in Swedish or something." She muttered, pressing SEND and happening to bring up recent calls, which were few and far in between. Eric, Eric, Isabel, Eric...it was mostly Eric, with the most recent outgoing call being some guy named Russell. It wasn't as though she expected to find anything anyway, she placed the phone back exactly where it was positioned before. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Crystal put her head in her hands and sighed, pressing the heels of her palms into her closed eyes and causing bright lights to burst behind her lids. She hadn't even left Bon Temps and was already wishing she were back in Dallas.

Itza prepared a plate with fried steak, mashed potatoes and green beans. All Sookie's cooking of course, though Itza was rapidly learning. She walked over to the table and set the plate down in front of their guest, Alcide Herveaux. He was a Were, but he was on their team, for now at least. Earlier that day he had arrived and explained that Eric sent him to help get to Jackson and protect the girls during daylight hours (as well as nighttime, if it called for such). He wasn't fond of vampires, but his father, who owned a construction company in Jackson, had taken a loan from Eric a while ago and now it was his son who had to take care of the debt.

He was a handsome man. He was tall and muscular, with dark black hair that fell around his face, and he had a medium-thick beard and mustache combination that was kept quite groomed for a Were. His eyes were dark and intense, but his smile friendly. Once Sookie got to prodding, they found out his ex-fiance, Debbie Pelt, had left him for the leader of the pack that Sookie suspected was behind Bill's kidnapping.

"We're runnin' a little behind schedule." Alcide said, his voice gruff as he dug into his plate. "Any idea when the vamp is gettin' here?"

"Godric and Crystal should be here shortly." Sookie said kindly, washing the few dishes that remained in the sink.

"Eric too, right?" Itza asked, leaning on the chair. Alcide cleared his throat, shaking his head.

"He told me he ain't coming. Had some business to tend to or somethin'. I didn't press about it."

"That's odd." Sookie said, drying the dishes and beginning to put them away. Itza, in the meantime, rolled her eyes and joined Sookie at the sink. "Penny for your thoughts?" Sookie mused.

Itza shrugged, "I'm sure if you wanted to-"

"I've already promised to stay out your mind, and I intend to keep that promise." Sookie cut her short. Itza rested her elbows on the counter, watching the wind blow the dark trees outside.

"Just thinking about what Eric said last night." She finally said.

Sookie dried her hands on the small towel that lay on the counter, "About your ability?"

Itza never took her eyes off of the trees, "Yeah."

"Aw hell, your a Supe too?" Alcide asked, watching the two girls. Sookie shot him a look and he quickly spoke, "Sorry, didn't mean to eavesdrop or anythin'."

"No, no it's fine." Itza turned around, locking eyes with Alcide as she gave him a gentle smile. He was attractive alright, but he just didn't set off her nerves like the viking did. "I'm not too sure what I can do yet, but I have some sort of way to drain someone's emotions."

"Ever done it?" Alcide asked, curious. He hadn't ever heard of such an ability before, it already was a shock to him when Sookie read his thoughts first thing when he came into the house.

"No, I haven't." Itza lied, looking down at her feet casually. "I don't plan to either."

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Sookie perked up, leaving the kitchen to answer the door.

"Miss Stackhouse." Godric nodded with a small, polite smile.

"Gosh your helpin' me rescue my boyfriend all the way in a different state, I reckon you can call me Sookie by now!" She giggled. "Come on in." She stepped aside and allowed for Godric to come in, followed by Crystal, who gave Sookie a hug.

"Alcide, this is Godric and Crystal." Sookie provided the introductions, "This is Alcide."

"Nice to meet you." Crystal grinned.

"Likewise." His eyes wandered over her, but not too long. She had, after all, arrived with a vampire. One who's arm was now protectively around her waist, though he believed he was the only one to notice the rather territorial gesture. "I tried my best to light-tight the guest room, but there's a little bit of sunlight that gets through the damned-"

"I've already made arrangements for myself." Godric replied curtly. His tone even caused Crystal to frown up and glance over at him, but he kept his aquamarine eyes locked on the Were. She wasn't used to him being so short with someone upon a first impression, but then again he had quite a past with these creatures. The room grew silent and he looked at Crystal, his expression softening now, "Unfortunately I cannot bring you along; but I will be with you as soon as night falls."

"First night we're goin' to a Were-bar. Don't think you'd be too welcome there." Alcide countered.

"I wasn't made aware of a plan once we reached Mississippi." Godric returned his intensity back on Alcide.

"What did you expect? Us to just sit around and have easy conversation till the vamp finds us?"

In the blink of an eye, Godric had vamped to the table where Alcide was seated, which startled the Were a bit, but didn't shake him enough to back down. Godric narrowed his eyes at the Were, cocking his head ever so slightly, almost as though he were curious about the creature in his presence.

"I have absolutely no patience nor respect for your kind. I do not wish to cause an altercation when I am the guest in another's home; but know this, had you spoken to me with such disrespect anywhere else, I would have snapped your neck without hesitation." He threatened in a vicious tone, fangs fully extended. Alcide's nostrils flared as he stood and geared up for a response.

"I think that's Godric's way of saying, 'let's take this outside'." Crystal instigated, though she only meant it in a humorous way.

Itza ran between them both and placed her hands on their chests. "Too much rage, your both seeing red...I can feel it." She removed her hands once the heat had simmered. "Nearly burns my hands."

Godric retracted his fangs and walked over to Crystal, pressing his lips against hers in a promise of more to come. He pulled back and rested his hands on her shoulderblades, kissing her forehead. "By the time you arrive, it will be daylight. I won't intrude upon your-plans, but I will be nearby."

She smiled at him, "I'll be fine Godric. Eric wouldn't have hired Alcide if he couldn't be trusted. Relax." She caressed his cheek.

Godric turned back around, "Be careful." And with that, he was gone.

"We better get goin', got a lot of ground to cover." Alcide looked to each girl with a serious expression. It was time to get down to business.