A/N: Thanks to Mrskroy, rachel olsen-williams, and every single reader.

Also to my guest reviewer, spot on. Thank you! I am so glad my betas and I are not the only ones who have been perceiving his actions as such. His behavior will be addressed, but not fully resolved here.

My heart is my armor
She's the tear in my heart
She's a carver
She's a butcher with a smile
Cut me farther
Than I've ever been

- Tear in My Heart – Twenty-one Pilots

xXxXxXxXx Present Day xXxXxXxXx

"Do not worry. Your sister is safe with the demon."

Godric placated softly, patting his hand against the flexed bicep of my arm reassuringly – my hand curled tightly in a fist – as I watched the supernatural being in question carrying an unconscious Addy down the house's dimly lit hallway.

"Come. We have much to discuss."

Nodding my assent – vision still tinged with a heavy sheen of red – I turned on my heel to follow my maker, grimacing slightly when I heard the tell-tale click of the spring bolt as it depressed into the strike plate. I could not believe Godric not only tolerated that fucking demon spawn – that jackass – but that he trusted him with Addy. More than me! While she was fucking unconscious, and in her most vulnerable state, no less! It took every ounce of self-restraint within me to stop myself from tearing both of them in two, to keep my growling beast at bay.

Godric had always been obsessively protective of Addy.

But ever since she had been turned vampire, it had gotten so much worse.

Previously, I had broached the subject once – just once – my fader's welfare the sole thing on my mind – only to be met with an unyielding, stalwart resistance. Had he not insisted otherwise, his persistence echoed by the feelings rumbling through our bond, I would have sworn he believed Addy to be his soul's mate, that he was overcome by something akin to love – or jealousy. But whatever it fucking was that had driven him to adopt such extreme measures to shield her from our world – his latest refusal to disclose pertinent information revolving around tonight's events – it was no longer just hurting him, but risking her life as well.

Addy had almost fucking died tonight!

And I, for one, was no longer going to idly stand by.

"I believe, as long as she is amenable to it, that Addy should go back with Thalia to Europe – to train for the Trials."

I gritted out tersely as Godric closed his office door behind us, the surge of irritation in our bond instantly reducing to a trickle as he clenched his jaw and swiveled around to stare disdainfully at me.

"Train… for the Trials… in Europe…" he repeated incredulously as his brown eyes burned with barely contained fire – pupils blown black like smoke, "No! I will not allow her to be subjected to the Trials so soon after her turning. Your sister will remain here, with me, where she can be protected. She is still young – a child – she needs…"

Was he fucking kidding me?

This delusion had been entertained for far too long already.

"SHE IS NOT A CHILD!"

I snarled venomously – my beast clanging its sharpened talons against the steel bars of its metaphorical cage – as my fangs snicked down violently, painfully.

Swallowing bitterly, I choked down the blood that spilled into my mouth, waiting for my maker's refutation – to bear the brunt of his expected wrath.

But although Godric stayed silent – ominously so – I did not waver or stray from my purpose, instead soldiering on.

"Addy is NOT a child – by anyone's standards! For fuck's sake, we are all here to celebrate some stupid rite of human passage into fucking adulthood!"

I snorted crossly, blowing out shallow and angry breaths as I stalked back and forth in half-moon arcs – my eyes narrowing to slits, matching those glaring back at me harshly.

"Not that it fucking matters because… She. Is. VAMPIRE!"

An exceptional one, at that.

Addy's stoicism, the control she levied over her blood-thirsting beast, rivaled even the oldest among us.

Unable to cease my nearly frenzied pacing, I continued to circle the small space like an animal held in captivity, surely rutting my path into the floor. Each heavy and echoing footfall – as it pounded against the wood-slatted grain – increased my growing irritation, and ire. It was altogether too quiet, a true rarity since it was something that did not usually bother me – deafening silence a thing I had not only accustomed myself to, but sometimes preferred.

This was very much not one of those times.

I wished my maker would say something – anything – instead of appraising me slowly.

"Are you quite done, broder?"

Godric retorted coolly, after almost a minute had passed, as he strode over behind his desk to sink into the leather chair – an eerie calmness not only washing over his expression but flooding our tie.

Reducing the fiery blaze of hot anger burning within me to nothing more than a few hissing embers.

Simultaneously perturbed and inexplicably relieved, I mumbled my acrid assent.

"She is not…" Godric sighed resignedly, leaving me in a state of confusion that transcended all other emotions battling for dominance within me, "…despite your misguided beliefs, and fervent declarations – vampire. Sookie is only partially a vampire, at best."

He paused expectantly, weaving his fingers together pensively to rest under his chin – his elbows set on the mahogany bureau – waiting perhaps for me to don a look of shock or disbelief.

I remained impassive, unfettered by his admission – who cared if she was not fully vampire?

She was still one of us!

"She must be raised differently, handled more gingerly – shielded from threats or harm. Because she is dead, but also alive, to an extent," Godric continued wistfully, sighing once again as he averted his gaze from mine before unraveling his hands, "She breathes; her heart beats. Not only can Sookie stay awake during the day – ignore the pull of the dawn, and deny the urge to sleep – she can go out into the light. Sometimes, she will even spend hours – HOURS - basking in the glow of the midday sun…"

Now this was certainly news to me.

But it was not appalling or upsetting, in even the slightest of ways – just interesting.

"So your plan is what then – to petition for an exemption? To lock her away for an eternity? To deny her any insights into her vampiric nature?! To fucking HOBBLE her?!"

Quipping back bitingly, I interrupted him, feeling fiercely protective of my maker's progeny as I punctuated my words – slamming my clenched fists down onto his otherwise pristine desk.

I grinned inwardly as the hard wood splintered and groaned, indenting slightly in response to my forceful ministrations.

By the Gods, that had been satisfying.

"YES, IF THAT IS WHAT IT FUCKING TAKES TO SECURE HER FUTURE!"

He shouted back, the volume of his voice growing with each word – shame filling our bond as he realized not only what he had said but exactly what it had meant.

That he would willingly hurt her, on purpose and at any cost, in his crazed effort to keep her safe.

His unspoken admission that it was not about her, it was about him.

I had meant to push him this far, but that reminder did nothing to stave off my own guilt. What other choice did I have? Honestly, I had none. Godric had become so attached to Addy – his own thirst for life entrenched in her ongoing existence – that it had bordered on being considered inappropriate long before she became vampire. But at least then, while she was still human, Addy still had her days, and some semblance of independence from him. Of course, she had been trapped instead under that asshole Henry's thumb – the mere thought of her familial abuser making my fangs snick down in anger.

But had Godric acted much less sadistic towards her? Honestly, no.

My maker had been handicapping his newest child, and by his own declaration, intentionally.

"Knock."

Thalia stated bluntly as she swung open Godric's office door, slicing through the viscous fog of tension – without actually bothering to rap her knuckles against the white painted wood to alert us to her arrival.

The little Greek vampire never had been willing to engage in social pleasantries.

Apparently, knocking also fell into the same category.

"Demon said she woke. You come now; party for her. Quit bicker bullshit."

To the point as always, Thalia finished her surprisingly long diatribe and disappeared, leaving the door ajar – assuredly on purpose, to reinforce her message we should leave Godric's office post-haste.

"We will continue our conversation about Addy's participation in the Trials later."

Godric promised somberly, hopping to his feet before he whooshed through the opened exit, back towards the Great Room – to celebrate the birthday of the child he had just admitted he had aggrieved.

Yes – I thought to myself as I nodded, not knowing whether he had seen it or not.

We most certainly fucking would be.

"I told her – Addy – we're not together together, earlier tonight – in case you wanted to know."

Pam whispered conspiratorially as she pulled me aside, our bond ringing with the truth of her statement – the first song playing from the dog's iPod obviating any chance of being overheard.

"Why?'"

I inquired skeptically, not because I was calling Pam's motives into question – although perhaps I should have been – but because she likely would not care.

Addy was already spoken for.

By her fucking demon roommate, of all beings.

"Eric, really… when it comes to that girl, you are so fucking obtuse."

"I am nothing of the sort!"

I disagreed vehemently, growling lowly as I stalked away from my child and towards the girl in question, readied to prove Pam wrong – once and for all.

"Dance with me."

It was not what I had planned to say as I approached Addy, who had been swaying to the beat of the music while still seated on the couch.

But it would do.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"I was gonna give myself to King Whiskey like he wanted."

Addy muttered sheepishly, her wide blue eyes clouding with an emotion I could not identify as the infuriating words rolled off her darting tongue and slipped past her pink-hued lips.

She had planned to sacrifice herself to Jameson?!

Was she fucking kidding?!

Instantly, my thoughts plunged into a snarling mess of consuming darkness, my outward expression steeled and unchanging, as I grasped the edge of the well-worn kitchen basin firmly. Too strongly, I realized as the porcelain material cracked beneath my strong grip, pulling me out of the tsunami-like swell of anger that been threatening to take me under. No one had hurt Addy – I reminded myself; she was safe and standing, albeit with an unreadable look, mere feet from me. But of course, my mind still flashed with every other possible likelihood – all with the same outcome: I would have lost her.

Did she have a fucking death wish!?

Thank the fucking Gods, Thalia buried her!

"Why would you do that?"

I queried emotionlessly after calming myself down, releasing the now broken sink from my taut hold, immediately regretting the indisputable fact that my feelings had overcome me.

"Because… people were getting hurt… I wasn't worth all that trouble."

Addy enthused morosely – teary-eyed and distant – her gaze settled on nothing in particular as she stroked her hands up and down her arms reassuringly.

Refusing to subject Addy to the demons now clutching me tight, I worked to calm my ignited nerves and still the fluttering anxieties coursing through me. While I was displeased at her lack of self-confidence – her belief she was undeserved of the lengths others had been willing to go for her – I could not even entertain holding it against her. She had obviously been through a whole host of awful things in her short life that I had no personal framework to comprehend, let alone understand.

'No, Henry! Please, NO! I'll be good! I'll be good!'

The desperate pleas Addy had made during her nightmares continued to haunt me.

"Shhhhhh…"

I soothed quietly as I enveloped my maker's child in my arms, folding her shaking form against me – pressing her closely to me as she began to unleash a veritable horde of bloody tears.

This was the second shirt tonight I would have to trash.

Not that I cared.

Continuing to supportively shush Addy as she alternately sobbed and hiccupped – overwhelmed by emotion – I rubbed my hands carefully over the expanse of her cloth-covered back, missing the skin-to-skin contact I had made while dancing earlier. Just touching her, innocently brushing the tips of my fingers across the curve of her hip, had sent electric jolts straight to my groin. I felt like a prick for thinking of it now – my dick twitching against the zipper confines of my pants – while she cried in my arms. But I had spent so long, too long really, convincing myself that she meant nothing to me.

Deluding myself.

Because at some point, she had fundamentally become everything.

"Do not ever say such a thing about yourself, Addy," I murmured softly, tucking her bowed head under my chiseled chin – happily drawing us even closer together still, "You are everything to…" me, "…Godric. He would gladly lay down his life, if it meant you would be safe."

"I know that now – I believe it even; I just didn't then."

Addy emphasized decisively, pulling herself out of my embrace – leaving me feeling bereft, as though she had belonged there – before heading over to the sink.

I watched raptly, my focus tunneled and narrowed, as she made short work of the bloody tracks trailing down her porcelain-colored face with a wetted stitched towel. That bit of cloth was certainly ruined too. She seemed content – imbued by the light Godric said she still carried within her – and more relaxed than I had ever seen her before. She even smiled blithely at her own reflection once her ministrations were complete, before turning back to face me.

Was this the influence of her demon boyfriend, titled roommate?

The very thought made my blood boil.

"You are so different now – happier. Is it your companionship with the demon that has changed you?"

I inquired urgently, remembering my initial aim as I stepped forward to brush at a wayward strand of hair, tucking it behind her ear as my eyes settled on the two pebbled scars about her neck.

The ones I had given her.

She would be MINE, not some demon's – I thought selfishly – had Godric not intervened.

"Jax? Oh ummm… not really," she responded seconds later, "I mean, he's a good friend, but his empathic powers don't work on me – if that's what you're asking."

Of fucking course, that was not what I had been asking.

Why would I give a shit about his abilities?!

"Is he your friend or your roommate, Addy?"

I rephrased gruffly, intentionally stressing each word in an effort to coax out of her the exact nature of her relationship with the jackass – as white-hot anger bubbled irascibly in my gut.

My patience was wearing thin.

Not that I had very much to begin with.

"Adds, there ya are!"

The fucking dog bellowed excitedly as he stepped into the kitchen space, acting as though he had not laid eyes on Godric's child in years, instead of minutes.

I could not help but roll my eyes at his animated and overly exuberant display.

Truly, had he a tail, it would have been wagging.

"Ya wanna open your presents now? We're all missing ya something fierce. Ya shouldn't let this guy monopolize all your time, birthday girl."

"Sure, Alcide! Be right there!"

Addy offered cheerfully, her previously tight-lipped expression widening into a breathtaking grin as it overtook her face – the furrow in her brow disappearing, relaxing into oblivion.

By the Gods, she had a positively entrancing smile.

Without even the smallest bit of effort, she had once again drawn me under her spell.

Forgetting all about the fucking dog and his untimely interruption, I quickly appraised Addy's ensemble for the second time tonight, mentally kicking myself for not doing so earlier. She had chosen something much more casual than the purple dress, pairing a loose silver-gray silk tank top with some tapered dark-wash jeans. Unlike her flowing blouse, those quite literally hugged her small curves like a second skin. In combination, the two pieces were boldly suggestive, but also unapologetically innocent.

An amalgamation of two seemingly incompatible things.

Like her.

"Friends."

Addy said resolutely out of the blue, gazing up into my eyes – suddenly so close to me I could feel her breath dance against hotly my skin.

Wait…

What did she say?

"Jax and I have only ever… Just. Been. Friends. I mean, how gross would that be anyways, he's like my brother…"

Gross… Her brother… Only ever just been friends…

All of it, music to my ears.

Inhibitions shredded into ribbons, libido set aflame, I practically lunged forwards, caging Addy between myself and the broken sink. After tangling my hand into Addy's curled blonde locks, my lips captured hers in milliseconds, possibly less. Showing extreme restraint I waited for half a minute before I allowed my tongue to lightly lick against the seam of her closed mouth – seeking entry. Clutched tightly at the pockets of my shirt, her hands curled like claws – Addy deliciously scraped her nails across the skin of my muscled chest. Momentarily pulled from my trance, I hesitated, stilling my heated ministrations and inelegantly releasing her – arms straightened and out to my sides. Unexpectedly, I felt something I had not experienced in centuries… contrition.

By the Gods, what the fuck was I doing?

Guilt slithered through my lust-addled mind as I waited for her to push me away.

But much to my surprise, Addy drew me closer to her instead, and began to lightly gyrate her hips against mine. Painfully holding my itching fangs at bay, I once again wrapped her possessively in my arms, covering her partially opened mouth with mine as our tongues stroked one other exploratively – sensuously. She really does taste like sunlight. Head swimming in hedonistic pleasure, my nerves alit with fire, I could not resist the urge to press my leg between hers, to supply the friction her trembling body was obviously seeking as she whimpered wantonly against my mouth. Her low throaty moans were sending spine-tingling thunderbolts through my already electrified nerves and down to my hardened aching cock.

She was definitely going to be the death of me.

Then – suddenly, with my name on her lips – Addy erupted into euphoric bliss.

"Mmmm… Ohhhhh… Eric!"

Fucking beautiful.

Still twitching autonomically in my arms, Addy's form vibrated unsteadily – her apparently necessary breath coming out in short pants – as her glazed-over and cloudy eyes regained clarity – lucidity. She blinked several times, her lengthy bare lashes fluttering over and over as she tried to regain her usual level of composure, the one that she had lost only moments ago. While we had never exchanged more than a few words – my preference skewed permanently towards silence – the atmosphere was uncomfortably deafening as Addy untangled herself from my embrace. Wordlessly, she offered me little more than a tight smile, refusing to meet my eyes before she put a small distance between us.

Was she embarrassed by what had occurred?

Surely, that was not the case.

"I should…"

Addy mumbled as she finger-combed her mussed-up hair, gesturing towards the Great Room in a feeble attempt to bring about an end to our interaction – a tactic I intentionally ignored.

"They're all waiting for me, for the… rest of the party stuff? I mean, obviously. So yeah…"

"Go then."

I grumbled determinedly, the previously raging fire in my loins reduced to mere ashes as she scurried away from me – likely perturbed by my capriciousness.

I was acting as badly as a tantruming human child.

Sadly, I often did in her presence.

"Eric?"

Addy asked nervously, thankfully overlooking my brusqueness – her hand curled around the jam – turning back from her hasty retreat to finally make eye contact for the first time post-kiss.

"Yes, Addy?"

"I really enjoyed… this – that too," she amended timidly, twirling her hair about her finger, "Of course, THAT too for sure! But, you know, also this – you and me talking, dancing – generally just getting along. We don't do this enough, spend time together. We should do that more. Ugh, I mean this, but maybe also that. But not that, if you dun want to…"

She had begun to nervously ramble, and I realized she worried I might avoid her again – like I had done post-carnival.

So I swiftly sought to remove her nagging doubts.

"I want to, Addy," I agreed completely, interrupting her perhaps rudely, but with purpose, "You are right. This, but also that, was quite nice," Had I ever been party to such an awkward conversation, save Thalia – obviously, "Perhaps we should consider making time to do both in the foreseeable future."

Ideally after she agreed to leave with Thalia, but before she started the Trials.

Even though I had nothing but confidence she would survive them.

My maker's child beamed brightly before skipping back to the Great Room – her excited grin assuredly genuine this time. I had done that, made her happy – not the demon or Godric. Me! Knowing that I had affected her in such a way birthed the same fluttering feeling in my gut that I had experienced during our trip to the carnival. But this time I openly embraced it, letting it wash over me despite my discomfort – instead of seeking to destroy it as I had done before.

Progress.

That felt a lot like progress.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

As I ambled back into the Great Room, Godric was quick to pull me aside, and into the opened space that Addy and I had made our dancing floor. Just thinking about having her in my arms, physically close to me had my mind whirring like a machine and my body reacting like a human teenaged boy. Surreptitiously, I blocked my tie to my fader before my feelings of longing and lust could travel across it.

I had no intentions to explain to him what had happened between Addy and I in the kitchen.

It was our business, and our business alone.

"You have brought your sister a birthday present, as is customary – correct?"

Godric over-emphasized the word 'sister' intentionally, assuredly irritated with me – the clench in my maker's jaw displaying his displeasure even though he otherwise seemed calm and collected.

Producing the small pouch from my pocket, I nodded my assent while at the same time presenting it to him for scrutiny. He grabbed for it at vamp speed, moving it from hand to hand as if to ascertain its contents by weighing the small parcel. Holding the edge almost gingerly, as though the bag's existence was mildly offensive to him, he bluntly shared his unbidden opinion.

"Seems small, broder. She is eighteen. It is a pivotal milestone in the life of a human..."

"She is not human."

I sneered impolitely, seeking to remind my maker not only of our earlier exchange but that his newest progeny was vampire – a fact he seemed to have forgotten or, at least, was keen to disregard.

"Do NOT start again, Eric," he growled warningly, our tie thrumming with his irritation, "We will continue our discussion later, once Sookie's party has concluded – and not one minute before."

My gift still in hand, Godric blurred over to the breakfront, removing what I imagined was his own – a brightly wrapped box topped with a shiny red bow. After adding both to the meager pile on the glass coffee table, he stood a little off to the side, watching with rapt attention as Addy opened first the demon's and then the dog's laser-etched plastic gifts. Exuding nothing short of glee, Godric was practically quaking with excitement as he lifted his own benefaction and offered it to Addy.

"Merry Day of Human Birth, Dotter."

"New running shoes! Thank you!"

Emitting a high-pitched sound I had certainly never heard her make, Addy leapt up from her seated position and threw her arms about Godric.

As she draped herself around him, instead of flinching away, my maker eagerly returned her open embrace – smiling softly until he inhaled her scent wistfully.

Then displeasure momentarily swept over his countenance.

She smelled of me – of course she did – since we had been pawing at one another only moments before – something I very much wanted to do again. Scanning the room, Pam caught my gaze and quirked a single eyebrow, a gesture that was synonymous with busted. I stifled the urge to groan, simultaneously grateful that Addy's maker-child bond with Godric was small by nature – he likely had not felt anything from her, even as she shattered in my arms – but irritated that I had not even considered blocking my own feelings of lust and excitement from Pam.

Or my fader, for that matter.

Fuck! I had not intended for him to find out this way, or at all.

Disengaging from their hug to reclaim her previous position, Addy ignored – or possibly did not glimpse – the harsh scowl Godric flashed me as he regained his own. Words would be had later, it said. Good, we needed to fucking talk. A light din of conversation rose and permeated the opened space as Addy's guests resumed their earlier conversations, all parties acting as though the ceremonial gift-giving event had concluded.

Despite the fact that one gift still remained.

My own.

As Addy's eyes lost their focus, fluttering to a close, she began to almost reverently trace her fingers across her lips. Was she recalling our kiss? Just the thought that she might be replaying our kitchen rendezvous in my mind made my cock swell and twitch, forcing me to adjust myself discreetly. Well, as subtly as possible in a den full of vampires and supes.

Addy has acquired quite an eclectic collection of friends, I thought to myself.

Secretly, I was glad to be counted among them.

"Sookie?"

Godric asked pointedly, displeased that she had not actually completed the human ritual he had sought to recreate – that she had moved on to other things.

Like thinking of me.

At least, I hoped that was what she was doing.

"Hmm?"

Addy hummed back distractedly, seductively ghosting fingertips over her buxom lips – first the bottom, and then the top – eyes still closed as she lightly bobbed her head.

"Sookie."

Godric admonished abruptly, snapping his progeny out of her reverie – her eyes snapping open and then flitting about the room before she shrugged her shoulders confusedly.

Privately, my maker had always been mercurial in nature, but especially when Addy was concerned.

Tonight was no exception.

"Eric got you a present, kid. Open it!"

The demon encouraged playfully – did he always have to touch her – I sneered in my mind as he bumped his shoulder into hers before pointing squarely at my still unopened present.

She had missed it – the shock in her blue eyes shining her surprise clearly.

In Addy's defense, I had wrapped it myself.

As her hands vibrated unsteadily – so minutely it could only be perceived by vampiric eyes – she gingerly picked up my haphazardly dressed gift and transferred it to her lap. Lightly tugging at the knotted tie, instead of simply ripping through the papered enclosure as I had expected her to do, she experienced a fair amount of resistance from the red-ribboned fastening. Why she took such care at all I could not fathom. Despite my overwhelming urge to intervene, I allowed her to continue to try to finagle the tight loop, frustrated as she found nothing other than failure.

I had just about reached the edge of my patience when she finally unraveled it, revealing her gift.

Gasping – loudly – her eyes instantly flew to mine before moving to gaze at the car key again.

Then she slapped her hand over it, cupping it from view. I furrowed by brow, confused but also irritated by her display. Did she not like it? Pam had told me that she read in one of the many human advisement columns she consumed that a vehicle was a customary gift to give when the recipient reached their eighteenth year, denoting personhood separate from their parental units. To celebrate their freedom.

Which was what I aimed to ultimately give her.

Since by vampire law, she would gain her full rights once she completed the Trials.

"C'mon, Adds. What is it? We wanna see!"

The dog enthused eagerly – again, if he had a tail right now, it would be wagging – as he moved to tower over Addy and tried to peer through her closed hand – as she obviated the key from view.

"Yeah, kid. You don't gotta play up the suspense! We're interested, we swear!"

The demon-not-boyfriend teased, trying to touch her again – forcing me to tamp down the hiss that climbed into my throat – as Addy brusquely batted his hands away from her lap.

"Yes, Sookie. Show us." Godric demanded determinedly, rising from his seated position on the loveseat to tower over his progeny, "What is it? What has your brother gifted you?"

He had emphasized the word 'brother' just to irk me.

I was sure of it.

My progeny Pam yawned needlessly – garnering herself a disapproving glare from Thalia – as she fussily picked at the increasingly-chipped polish on her otherwise pristine nails.

This was Pam's hell.

Sadly, it was quickly becoming mine too.

"It is a key – a car key to be precise – to a Porsche Cayman, which will be delivered tomorrow night."

I intervened unaffectedly, reveling in the feeling of Addy's warmth when her arm brushed against mine as I lifted my goblet of donated blood to my pursed lips.

With the surprise already ruined, Addy lifted her cupped hand, threading her finger through the fob's ring to hold up the key for all to see. Both the demon's and the dog's eyes went wide moments before they all but cheered – the familiar emblem providing undeniable proof of my earlier explanation. Had they counted me as a liar when I said I had purchased her a Porsche? Assholes. While Addy stared at Godric – her own expression as blank as his – and her bunch of strays resumed their trivial chattering, I let my mind wander, mulling over what my maker had shared with me after the fairy attack.

'She breathes; her heart beats…'

'Sometimes, she will even spend hours basking in the glow of the midday sun…'

Min lilla faerie had been blessed with all kinds of gifts it seemed.

So many, in fact, I could not help but wonder darkly if she was hiding any more.

"Eric, do you really think this is the wisest course of action?"

Pam questioned me concernedly, her worry transmitting through our bond despite the blank expression donning her angelic-looking face.

I myself had thought the same thing multiple times throughout this night.

But especially after the demon, despite it being his house, had left.

Knowing that even he saw the coming maelstrom as I did unnerved me, increasingly so – but especially since I was sure he had alerted Addy to the fact that something was brewing. He was like a brother to her, per her own admission – and I believed that truly was the nature of their relationship – so I was sure he had given her ample warning that unavoidable turmoil was headed her way. Her sidelong and narrowed glances my direction before walking outside with the dog and demon – overnight bags in hand – as she sought to cover her tired yawns, confirmed it for me.

Proving her trust in me was expectedly low.

But perhaps – and unexpectedly – even lower when it came to her maker, apparently.

"Okay, spill – both of you."

Addy demanded assertively – hands positioned firmly on her shapely hips – after she and Godric walked back into the Great Room, both having bidden goodbye to the other supes as they exited the abode.

"Because you two hanging around acting all broody and butt-hurt for the next hour before the sun comes really isn't gonna work for me."

Pam's overwhelming amusement choked out our normally placid bond, despite the fact that her face remained completely blank and composed.

Regardless of her sometimes bratty ways, my child really was an exceptional vampire.

Just like my maker's was.

"Sookie…"

"Uh-uh. Not this time, mister." She interrupted sharply, cutting Godric off as she shook her head in dissent, "You always do this, Ezra, and honestly I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired about it. Now we're all gonna talk about what the hell happened earlier – whether you like it or not."

Godric waved his hand, wordlessly bidding Addy to sit – an entreaty she relented to with an agitated huff. Taking the seat opposite to mine and Godric's, a reclining chair obviously picked for comfort and not at all for looks, she sat down and drew her legs up against her chest. Twisting in a way that highlighted her flexibility – yummy – she finally settled, resting her cheek against the back of the hideous piece of furniture, letting it envelope her like a human comfort blanket. How I had overlooked the orange monstrosity's existence earlier tonight I could not say, but I noted that it was likely an object borne of Addy's affection.

Had she had something similar at her home in Dallas?

Truly, I wanted to know.

"My…I guess, adopted… great-grandmother owned this chair," Addy offered softly and without provocation, perhaps in response to my sneer, "And while it may be an eye-sore, I love it. It's the thing I picked out from her home for my own when she died. That and a faucet," she laughed, obviously recalling a humorous memory I was not privy to, "I think that's in the attic now. I don't even remember why I wanted it – or this god awful thing, for that matter," she laughed, "but it's nice having some things from my old life, you know?"

This Addy was markedly more loquacious than the one who had lived in my home.

During the time she was missing, she had changed a lot – grown.

"Alright, enough about me and my ugly chair," Addy joked lightly before sitting up a little straighter and squaring her shoulders, "Let's get down to brass tacks…"

"Real quick, sweet pea," Pam interjected, reminding all of us of her and Thalia's presence, "We may be out in the middle of goddamn nowhere, but I for one would like to try to find a decent meal before bed. No offense to your bagged blood diet, Addy, but it simply just doesn't do it for me."

The little Greek vampire grunted her agreement from her almost vigil-like position at the window.

"Take Thalia with you."

I responded promptly, giving Pam permission to hunt – although I knew she was really asking to be excused from what she anticipated to be a tumultuous conversation.

Clever, clever woman, my child.

It was a shame that she had recently overshadowed her best qualities by acting so spoilt.

The two blurred from the room without fanfare. A loud bam echoed through the Great Room as the thin screen door slammed harshly against its jamb, signaling their exit. The atmosphere quickly shifted from uncomfortable to stifling as the three of us sat in relative silence – cicadas humming their buzzing songs from somewhere out in the dusty field.

Nothing was said for minutes.

An eerie calm washing over us, seemingly before the perfect storm.

"Okay, seriously, let's all put on our big boy pants here, and get down to business. We're running out of moonlight."

Addy sighed exasperatedly, slicing swiftly through the thick tension as though she had swung a knife – again, with one of her signature idioms.

After inhaling and exhaling an unnecessary breath, Godric began to explain to his progeny every single thing he knew about fairies – including a couple of things I had never heard – surprising me with this candor. She truly was his only weakness. My face a mask of indifference, I inconspicuously volleyed my attentions between the two of them, expertly reading each small twitch and tic – their tells.

All in all, it appeared that Addy was taking everything fairly well.

Albeit, a little too well.

"And their teeth? Why did it matter what color they were?"

This time Godric paused, trepidation spilling into our bond. None of this was going as expected. For the first time since the beginning of this exchange, I felt very much like an interloper intruding on what perhaps should have been a private moment. The last time I had seen my maker so… afraid, Addy had been unconscious and dying in my arms; he had been fearful – openly terrified – he would lose her.

Witnessing my fader act more human than he had in a millennia had borne a similar emotion in me.

Just as it was doing now.

"Vampires," he spoke slowly, the usually present authority absent from his tone, "are not able to tolerate the touch of silver. It poisons us, especially if it makes contact with our bloodstream. It is why I applied my blood to your wounds, to help cleanse them."

"I'm… allergic to silver, and you didn't tell me?"

Now Addy was on her feet, but not pacing, which would have been the normal thing to do given the weight of his declaration. Of course, Addy was not normal by any stretch of the imagination; she was extraordinary. Instead, she walked over to the window and began to trace her finger over a few of the trails of condensation on the outside – rain. It must have just started, I thought as it pelted against the roof at a rapidly increasing speed.

Internally, I groaned when I realized that my progeny would be caught in the downpour.

A wet Pam was infinitely more insufferable than a dry one.

The air again became heavy as Addy peered silently out the window – her blue eyes wide as if trying to take everything in – watching like an awestruck human child while moisture fell onto the previously dry field. She is neither human, nor a child, my mind chided me as memories from my earlier argument with Godric about her going with Thalia to Europe flooded my thoughts. No, a kid – as her demon had unsuitably nicknamed her – would have stamped her foot at our maker's profession, thrown something, or simply stormed out.

Instead she was contemplative, pensive.

Utterly unexplosive.

"I want to go with Thalia. When she leaves with Pam, I want to go with her."

She finally said, turning from the window to look at me and Godric, her alabaster face completely devoid of any and all expression – her coral-tinged lips pressed into a firm line.

"The Trials…"

I sputtered out inelegantly, as lightning flashed across the sky, stunned momentarily by what Addy had said – it was as if she had been reading my mind.

Impossible.

I thought definitively, dismissing the errant and unamusing notion just as Addy asked curiously.

"The what now?"

"Every vampire must complete the Trials before they reach one hundred years."

Godric answered suddenly, rising from his seated position to join Addy next to the window – his eyes pleading and contrite as the thundering rainstorm began to slow.

He is trying to take his first step – I realized quickly – towards earning back her trust.

So I stilled my tongue, although I was eager to speak.

"It is a series of tests, to put it mildly. A battle royal of sorts intended to confirm that the recently-turned vampire can indeed survive, and is deserving of the gift they have been given. Those who fail the Trials… they are culled – delivered what is termed the True Death – immediately and without mercy or measure. Your br… Eric believes that, under Thalia's tutelage, you will be readied to face them when they commence this winter, before you have even been turned vampire for a year. It is quite unheard of to send a progeny while she is still so young, not that age provides any guarantee. Even Eric lost his first son there, and he was aged just shy of ninety years…"

At three months old, Addy had already proven she was more vampire than Thad had sadly ever been.

In fact, I had no doubts that she would pass the Trials with ease.

"Okay, I want to do that then."

Without preamble or additional question, Addy eagerly agreed to literally fight for her life in just under six months' worth of time – so perhaps she really did have a death wish after all.

By the Gods, I sincerely hope not.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Eyes snapping open and wide, I woke awash in consuming darkness – grateful the sun's rays were completely obviated by light-tight shutters – since I could feel that it was just now descending towards the horizon of the Texas sky. As I rose to my feet, I tapped lightly at each of my bonds, nonplussed to discover that while Pam was still dead to the world, Godric was conscious as well – our tie drumming with his unease. Sighing needlessly, I dressed for the night before heading towards the bedroom door.

Hand curled around the knob, I opened the exit slowly – just in case – pleased to find that the hallway was thoroughly dark as well.

I had never enjoyed being confined in the room I slept in until sunset.

"There are anti-UV, exposure-proof coverings pasted onto all the windows – so don't worry about coming in here, Eric. Kid actually insisted they be added throughout the house before she moved in."

The demon called out to me while I hovered outside the kitchen's jamb, likely sensing my hesitation via his empathic abilities as I neared the house's only sunlit space.

Walking into the room at an unnervingly human clip – my trust in Addy's friend tenuous at best – I spied the jack… Jax leaning against the counter, blowing at a steaming coffee cup clasped tightly in his grip as he gazed out the window – seemingly off and into space. Testing the hazy beams filtering through the supposedly-tinted glass – using appendages I was willing to damage, or possibly lose – I stifled the urge to balk in surprise as my fingers did not burn, or even tingle. Undoubtedly, Addy had not done this for herself. She more than tolerated the sun's violent ways – she basked in it.

No, this had been a precaution taken expressly for her vampire brethren.

What an amazingly thoughtful creature.

"And you obliged her request?"

I queried curiously, striding now confidently across the patterned linoleum-floor towards the white-colored fridge, opening it to search for some of the bagged blood she had always preferred.

"Of all things, that's what you wanna ask me? If I gave into her whims and fancies? Obviously, I did."

Jax rejoined grinning, turning towards me only briefly before returning his eyes to whatever had captured his attentions outside – sipping his hot beverage casually, but with purpose.

It seemed quite late in the day to be indulging in a caffeinated beverage.

Perhaps it was something markedly stronger.

Pulling a quarter-filled decanter of red-hued liquid off the top shelf, I shut the icebox door and set the container on the counter. Opening the closest cabinets, I found myself frustrated – where the fuck were the glasses? Damning propriety, I removed the stopper and lifted the curved glass vessel to my lips, downing the last of the chilled sustenance with puckered lips just as the demon placed a small etched cup in front of me.

"We keep them in the cabinet opposite. What? I like to get my steps."

Jax shrugged unapologetically, leaving the receptacle where he had laid it almost absentmindedly before resuming his previous station – his stalwart watch grabbing my interest.

"What is out there?"

I asked curtly, tamping down the urge to allow wariness to seep into my tone as I vamped towards the window and wrenched the lacey-doiled curtain back myself.

It was her – Addy – sitting cross-legged, looking breathtaking as she peered up at the sun.

Suddenly, thin streaks of fresh crimson tears began to spill down her cheeks, to stain her beautiful face.

"You better take care of her this time, Eric. She's nowhere near as strong as she tries to appear to be."

The demon advised dejectedly, patting my shoulder as he set down his drink – the stench of bourbon mixed with honey inescapable and sharp – before running outside to pick up Addy bridal-style.

Wetting the towel hanging off the oven's door, I waited impatiently for him to carry her inside.

Of course, I would take care of her.

I thought to myself as the demon transferred Addy into my arms, and I began to wipe away the sadness obscuring her beautiful visage – her wide-beaming smile collecting one of my own in return.

I would always look after this enchanting woman who had crept stealthily into my heart – nothing was ever going to hurt her.

Not while I was still around.