A/N: You guys hear that Godric is returning to True Blood? Best news ever! Of course, it'll probably be through flashbacks...but if they go with the book four storyline...Eric shouldn't be having much of those...Somehow I'm hoping for the witches to find some kind of magical way to bring back a vampire from it's true death. You never know...! Anyway, with this update there's more Godric/Eric dynamic! I feel like with the OCs, sometimes it breaks up the actual relationship between strictly Godric and Eric. I didn't want to rush into this part because the details are vital. I know I'm throwin a lot at cha plot-wise, but I believe you guys are intelligent enough to take the twists in large doses. Also we get some well-deserved Godric inner mind-workings. Enjoy!
Godric awoke from his daytime death and prepared himself for the evening. He showered as usual, but there was something that felt out-of-tune with the inner workings of his body and mind. He had discussed leaving for Dallas with his spitfire lover just the night before, and was looking forward to settling back into his nest and introducing her to his environment. Not being one who had fallen in love more than twice, he thoroughly enjoyed her company, whether she was in the midst of a fit of rage, or tangled with him between the sheets in bliss. She cared not about impressing him because of his status, she loved him as he was, and wanted his flaws as well as his perfections. It felt new to him. Ability or not, she was human and refused to be apologetic for such.
The old vampire often felt his cold, pale skin come alive with sprinkles of warmth at the sheer thought of the girl who had captured his still heart, but the lack of feeling surprised him so much that he glanced over his arms, front and back, wondering what had happened. He closed his eyes but felt no melody. The moment he had first tasted her blood, a faint melody resided in his head as a remanent of her. The more he had of her blood, the better he could hear that melody until he could practically sit at a piano and play out the concerto of her essence. Everything was...mute.
What bothered him particularly, was that he knew she was alive. Her death would have stirred him instantly during daylight hours. It wasn't her order from last night, for if it were...he would hear and feel the agonizing flat notes of the melody, but have no way to restore it to normalcy.
As he was caught up in the complexity of his thoughts, he felt a brief tugging in his chest. One that he recognized immediately from all his years of knowing and understanding that feeling. It was Eric. Eric was nearby, very close in fact. But the question that now lingered was, why? Why had his child traveled so far from his Area when days prior he had seemed so occupied with it's activity? His first instinct was to ask this of him; but he had many years to sculpt the art of not acting upon one's first instinct, for more often than not that was not the wisest of decisions. He left the guest room, but as he was closing the door, another vampire, a female, came down in the opposite direction, blood tears streaked down her face. She had cat-like eyes and brown hair that was pinned back to showcase her soft, elegant features. He could tell immediately that she was old, not as old as he of course.
The female vampire passed by him and looked over her shoulder, and they happened to make eye contact, if only for a few seconds. She turned back around and darted down the hall using her supernatural speed, and all he was left with was the scent of her vintage perfume and the sound of a door slamming. Godric knew the King often entertained guests at his estate, but he had no desire to explore the quarters for whoever else was spending time here. The female vampire was the first guest he had encountered thus far, even if it was only momentarily.
Opting not to announce his presence, but at the same time not appear to be eavesdropping, Godric walked at a 'normal' pace down the hall and around the bend until he was within earshot of the conversation that was taking place downstairs. He identified the voices; Eric, Russell, Russell's partner Talbot. The fourth voice rang a clear bell in his memory from the phone call with the telepathic barmaid last night. So this was where Bill Compton had been? He turned only slightly to glance behind him, the image of the vampire with the blood-streaked face coming to him again. He was almost sure that was the one that Bill spoke so highly about his intercourse with. When Sookie explained that part of the conversation, Godric kept his opinions to himself. His sexual preferences didn't lie in vampire on vampire. Of course, he had done it before, many many times. It was an activity that held no depth or meaning, however. It was nearly always violent, messy, and the point was merely to prove one's strength and skill. Once he had distanced himself from that lifestyle, sex became desensitized and useless. He could give a woman no children, what was the point? It was not until he shared that experience with a human, that he found a new appreciation for how alive he felt in that moment. Yet unfortunately, a sorrowful memory crept into his mind...
"Godric!" The girl shrieked as the vampire took a hold of her and used his impressive speed to bring them across the empty courtyard Fog was beginning to cloak the air, but she felt safe with him, when normally she would never have ventured out this late.
He spun her around twice before setting her upon her feet. "What shall we do this evening, my beloved?" He asked.
"The world is my own, ripe for the picking is it?" She asked with a bubbly laugh, her Irish accent thick. She looked up to the moon in thought, the bright white orb reflecting in her ice-blue eyes. "I have an idea." Her voice grew quiet as she leaned forward and molded her lips against his.
He was taken aback, it was the first time his lips had contact with those of a human. But her nerves got the best of her and made her heart pitter-patter in ways no mortal could have ever heard. The vampire whom she had fallen in love with, however, could keep time with it. The beating of her heart, the blood through her veins, it sounded like it was thumping at his eardrums.
His fangs extended and he pulled away, turning from the girl. "I can't." He said, his voice fragile. She reached out and touched his shoulder gently, and he turned to her, his face full of a thousand apologies.
"You didn't frighten me. I've seen them before," She ghosted her porcelain palm down the side of his face, "Your teeth."
"I must go, Maeve, I apologize." He pulled away from her, but she was ever-persistent, and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. Her lip was nicked upon the blade of his lethal teeth, and as soon as the droplet made contact with his tongue, his newfound willpower dissipated and he devoured her with vehemence, his hands gripping her waist in a last ditch attempt to pull her away. But the vampire was kidding himself, of course, for if he truly wanted her gone he could have easily sent her flying across the courtyard without much effort.
Overcome with need, Maeve gave a strangled moan as he pinned her against the nearest tree. The ways that she touched his body with such love and care was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was addictive, and he could only imagine what her warmth would feel like pulsing with release around his length. Having no patience for her clothing, he pushed up her long skirt and though he was nearly in a frenzy, she took her time in releasing him from the confines of his own pants, though he gave her no time to do away with them completely. Godric hiked her legs up and she wrapped them around his waist and cried out in ecstasy as he rode her hard. His force caused the bark of the tree to bite into her exposed shoulderblades, and though she was too trapped in the lust to feel much pain, the smell of the little amounts of blood that escaped her cuts were overpowering.
"Godric! Godric!" She chanted his name like a mantra with every thrust he gave her. "Oh! I love you so much!" She tossed her head back and that was the end of everything. He lunged for her neck and her eyes flew open in shock as she screamed in horror. His senses were too overwhelmed to know any better and he opened up the artery with his fatal bite and hungrily drank the blood that was spilling out of the young girl's body. The death was merciful and quick...
Eric's statement brought Godric back into the present, "Your majesty...I confess, I sold the blood of my Queen's command and accused Bill to protect her. So what do I do now? Unless I give the Magister Compton, he'll murder my progeny."
He could not bring himself to believe what he had just heard. Eric had been involved with selling vampire blood? Godric had instilled the morals of blood being sacred to his child. Of course he had provided his own powerful source of life to Crystal, but she belonged to him. If that was not reason enough, she was, technically speaking, his Maker. He would not dare give it to anyone else, let alone deal it to strangers. It was blasphemy, and now Pam had to pay the price? Though a part of him was enraged, another part of him ached for the viking. Godric couldn't imagine the pain in his progeny being killed.
Godric continued down the stairwell, into the room where the vampires were seated around a candlelit table. "-The only power he has over us is the power we give him-" Russell was in the midst of cursing the Magister.
"Good evening, Godric." Talbot nodded to the new presence in the room. Eric had noticed when his Maker first entered, and his eyes were locked onto him. He had no idea he was here, and it did nothing to help his rapidly calculating thoughts to get out of the situation he was already within.
"Good Evening Talbot." Godric replied, "Your Majesty, Eric, and ah-" He paused once he laid eyes upon Bill, whom he now clearly knew, but preferred not to announce it as such.
"William Compton." Bill offered.
"Yes, William." Godric returned his attention to Russell, "I hope I am not interrupting anything?"
"Of course not! I was just asking Mr. Northman about staying as a guest in my home." Russell placed his hand upon Eric's shoulder.
"You would be more than welcome." Talbot added, looking at the blonde vampire with sheer lust behind his dark eyes.
Finally Eric tore his gaze from his Maker and looked up at the King. "How could I refuse?" He said with a small smile, one that read entirely false to Godric. Russell grinned and gave Eric a few pats before gesturing for Bill to follow him into his study.
"Do you two know each other?" Talbot asked, gesturing from one vampire to the other, as he sensed the tension in the room.
"We're acquainted, yes." Godric said lightly. "In fact, I would love to speak with him privately for a few moments, if you do not mind?" He was not asking for Talbot's permission; simply using manners, for the younger vampire clearly knew his place around the elder guest.
"Only if Eric will join me later for a little tour?" Talbot raised his brows at Eric as he stood up.
"I would be honored." Eric replied, to which Talbot smiled and stood up, leaving the two to their privacy.
Godric listened to the retreating footsteps before he spoke, "I am a very forgiving vampire, Eric. In a world where my kind kills first and asks questions later, this is rare. However, you, more than any other, should understand that my forgiveness has strict limits."
The younger vampire wore a brave face more often than not, but could not even bear to look his Maker in the eyes as he was spoken to. "Godric, it was under the Queen's orders-"
"Could she not find any other suitable vampire to carry out her task? William Compton appears to be well-suited for the job. His worth is incomparable to yours. Now that the Magister is involved? You can expect to lose your position and your progeny-"
Eric stepped forward, his passion apparent in his powerful, yet slightly quivering tone. "I will not lose Pam." His voice lowered as his bright blue eyes darted around the room quickly before returning to the elder vampire in front of him, "The Magister wants Bill Compton. He believes it is he who is responsible for the selling in my area."
"And how are you so sure that the Magister will take your side?"
Eric's eyebrow rose, his lips tense as his eyes narrowed. "It is my word against his."
Godric approached him, feeling the challenge rising in his child's chest. "You truly believe you have everything solved." He shook his head slowly before continuing, "But provide me with an explanation for why you would do something so contemptible to me? I moulded you to become one of the greatest vampires of the ages. I was patient with you for hundreds upon hundreds of years. Even after we fell out and went our separate ways; when you returned to Dallas to ask for my assistance, I provided it without a second thought. This is how you repay me? With an act so blasphemous that I fear anyone who knows I created you?"
Eric clenched his teeth but maintained his composure. "I have disgraced you, and for that I humbly apologize. My intentions were never to cause you anger."
Godric placed his hand upon Eric's cheek, and Eric bowed his head in respect. "I cannot help you out of your troubles this time. My sympathy is with you." Seconds later, the viking opened his eyes after feeling the loss of contact against his face. His Maker was gone, and he was on his own...again.
"I promised Northman I would keep you and Itza out of harm's way! I've got one vamp down breathin' down my neck, I don't need two! That girl has already gotten herself involved and-" Alcide paced his living room, rubbing his hands together quickly in an attempt to relieve his built-up tension. "Dammit!" He punched the wall angrily.
Sookie was adamant, "Itza is resting, she's going to be fine. A little bruised, but that ain't nothin' Alcide. I know this Russell Edgington has to know something about Bill! I can bet anythin' that Bill's there! We came all this way, you want to just give in that easy?"
"You heard the Packmaster; this guy's had a pack of Weres serving him for hundreds of years! No means no Sookie, and that's it!" He bellowed, his voice nearly shaking down the whole building.
There was a knock at the door that interrupted their feud. Alcide barreled down the hall and swung the door open.
"Excuse me." Crystal shoved past him and beelined for the guest room. She closed every single curtain on the windows, and locked the door, all in a frantic tizzy. Her mind was abuzz, and she couldn't think straight. It wasn't nervousness, she could literally not formulate a sentence at that point. She sat on her bed and hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the wall in front of her with wide eyes.
Her senses were heightened beyond anything she had ever experienced. The lamp lighting shone like the sun, the colors of the furniture seemed to jump out at her. It was like she was on a bad LSD trip. She swore she could hear the footsteps of every neighbor in the apartment complex. Confused and afraid, she hugged her knees closer and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard the footsteps approaching and shrieked when there was a sharp rapping upon the door.
"Crys it's me, Sookie."
"No, no, no, no, no, no..." Crystal mumbled to herself. She nearly leapt out of her skin when she heard the twisting of the doorknob. "NO!" She yelled again, rushing over to the door and pressing her back against it. Her chest was sticky with sweat, strands of her hair clinging to her face. She breathed heavily, sliding down the door slowly when the noises had disappeared, assuming she was home free.
On the contrary, the doorknob was ripped clean off the door. She crawled away hurriedly in horror, finding solace in the corner of the room. A blood curdling scream left her lips when Godric had vamped to her position, trying to comfort her.
She shoved his hands away, "Stop, please, don't." She begged.
He halted after he had already touched her skin, and there was no electricity. No spark. Nothing but human skin. "What have you done?" He asked, his voice quiet but shaky as he came to the realization that something clearly had separated them.
Tears began free-falling from her eyes. "I-I-I thought-you're from Rome a-a-a-and she t-t-told me-Scaevola-a-and-"
He was at a lost for words at the mention of his family name. He knew then that something serious had occurred. "Crystal. Crystal, listen to me. Why can't I feel you? Who has done this to you?"
"The woman." She looked up into his eyes and tried to find the comfort in them that she once felt before, but it wouldn't break through the barriers of her mind.
"What woman?" He wanted to shake the answers out of her, but didn't move for her sake.
She shivered, "She's a-she does-magic."
The horrific truth hit Godric like bricks of silver. He fell to his knees in front of the weeping, worrisome wreck that had once been the woman he loved. "You've gone to a witch..." He said aloud.
She nodded slowly, "She said...everything would be...alright."
Godric shook his head, a sad smile tugging his lips as blood pooled within his eyes. "No. Everything won't be alright." A droplet travelled down his cheek and stained his khaki pants. He blinked and several more followed. She watched silently as he reached out and took her hand in his own, turning it over so her palm faced upwards. Just as he expected, there was a small, jagged line right over her wrist where her veins lay. "She has lied to you. Your power, along with my own, is now hers." He took both her hands and held them tightly.
"Godric, I-"
"There is nothing you can say. The girl who was so young, so brave, so beautiful and had such an amazing life ahead of her is no longer here." He released her hands and stood up.
Crystal scrambled to her feet and grabbed his arm, holding on tightly to him. "I'm here! I'm right here! Please, you can't...don't leave me..." She begged.
It was killing him to go. He was searching for any excuse not to.
She pulled harder and sobbed, "Kill me! Kill me please! If I'm gone then finish me now!" She fell to her knees and clenched her fists upon his clothing.
He turned around and kneeled down before her. "Look at me." He demanded. Immediately her head lifted. "You truly want me to murder you?"
She nodded frantically, "Please. I can't take the pain. I'm burning from the inside out and now I'm losing you."
Godric reached out and caressed the side of her face, slowly moving his fingers up to push her hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes, preparing herself for what she hoped would be a quick and painless departure, when she felt his hand ghost underneath her chin and he placed his lips against her own briefly. She opened her eyes, confused.
He wiped her tears, "The Crystal I once loved, was selfless when it came to truly loving me in return. I have never witnessed this trait in another being. Because you were prepared to let me take your life to end the suffering of our permanent separation, I now realize that somewhere inside of you is my dear love."
"I feel horrible. I just wanted the powers gone! I'm such a fucking idiot!"
"Your power came from the man who made me what I am. When you tamper with such power in a means to edit it or remove it, it affects the both of us. And a witch no less? One who knows my family name and history? This needs to be taken care of immediately."
Crystal listened to his explanation, but her body was still buzzing around inside with unexplainable energy that didn't belong to her. "I don't know what she's done to me, and I don't want to hurt you if I'm not myself." She stumbled over her words as she tried to come to terms with her solution, "Until we fix this...if we can fix it at all, please do whatever it takes to keep me in line. And if I am gone forever..." She inched herself closer to him, but thought better of it and backed off, standing up.
"If I am gone forever. Kill me."
He stood up as well, "I can't accept you being gone forever. It is not an option for me."
"Promise me, Godric." Her tone was serious, her empty eyes pleading.
He studied her a bit before answering, "I promise." He finally said, biting back the words bitterly.
