Chapter 4: Wake Up Call


Alea's POV


I expected the pain. The biting of sparks against my skin, the heat from the explosion, and the absolute agony that would come with it. I expected the overwhelming smell of burning flesh and the scream of protest from my body as it was torn to shreds. I was ready for it all to be over. I expected it to be over.

So, I waited.

I had heard the bomb go off, I had seen the light, it was so bright I had squeezed my eyes closed in surprise. I hadn't made it in time to the bomber, I hadn't stopped him. So why was I not dead?

I opened my eyes slowly, trying my best to stay calm, to breathe. Only, I wasn't breathing. I opened my eyes fully to find myself in stasis. I wasn't where I was seconds ago, in fact, I was watching the event unfold, watching as my fingers stretched towards the man in vain. Everything in the room was a hue of grey, and completely void of color. It was as if time had stopped. No one moved, no one even breathed. Everything was just suspended, and I was trapped here, watching it.

I turned back to where Eric and Godric were standing, my gaze landing on my saviors. Godric was in what looked like a stride forward, no doubt trying to spring after me. He was screaming something, his fangs fully extended as he tried to fight Eric's hold. Eric had his hand on his maker's chest, trying to hold Godric back as he screamed in my direction. His fangs also poking from his gums. Their eyes looked desperate. They were so worried about someone that they barely knew. They were worried about me. I felt my heart clench in my chest.

Then again so was I, the fear of them being harmed by the explosion outweighed all rational thought. That was why I ran, rather haphazardly, at the bomber. I didn't want them hurt, either of them. It brought a sour taste to my mouth to even think about it, it sent a violent shiver down my spine. I turned back towards my 'body', it looked like I was suspended in the air as I reached out towards the man. I could tell that the skin on my arm was a different color from the rest of my pale skin. The black stood stark against the greys, it was like obsidian, shining against the background. I was desperately trying to touch him, to kill him before he could kill us. I grabbed at my arms.

When did I get this bloodthirsty? Did I always have this nature to kill? I ran at him with no hesitation, with the intent to end his life.

Just as I had done earlier today.

I grabbed my head, pulling my hair softly, it was only now that I realized I couldn't feel it. There was no pain, there was nothing.

I reached towards my body, hesitating as I went to feel my skin. Would I even feel it?

"Please don't do that," the voice was harsh and sounded irritated. I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound. I flipped around in one quick motion, nearly falling over at the force of my momentum. A man was standing there by the wall at the far side of the room, he matched the gray background, but I could tell a few distinct things about him. He wore a dark black suit, with grey stripes that stood out against the black. That, however, was not what drew my attention to him, no.

His hair was a distinct white, much like my own. It glistened against the grey, like a light in the darkness. His jaw was chiseled, and he looked sharp, for lack of a better word. I would even call him beautiful.

"It is not yet time for you to return, we need to discuss something first," he glanced at my suspended body with disappointment. His voice was thick and rich. His tone sounded old like he was from another time.

"Who are you?" My voice was quiet, as I stared at the man who seemed to come out of thin air.

"I suppose I didn't tell you my name the last time we met," He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes never leaving mine. I couldn't tell their color, but I had a sneaking suspicion they mirrored my own. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, was I not alone after all?

"You may call me Osiris, we spoke when you were locked in the Fellowship of the Sun's basement," I stared at him in awe, so this was the mysterious voice that I had awoken too.

I had so many questions for him, so many things that I needed to know. I didn't even know where to start. He must have been able to tell my obvious morbid curiosity, as he sighed.

"We may discuss your questions in length now, as well as the path moving forward," he motioned with a rather irritated swing of his hand at the sight of my body, lunging at the bomb. I gulped down my fear, how would I get out of that? I took a deep breath, I had other things to think about first.

"Why was I left with my father," I called him father out of habit because I had been on the wrong end of a belt one too many times not to. It was ingrained in my memory, and I said it without thinking. A scowl came to my lips. I had many questions about him, and If I'm going to ask, I might as well go all out. Osiris seemed to contemplate my question for a moment.

"The elders decided to leave you with him, I am unsure why," was what he finally decided on. His eyes didn't leave mine as he spoke, his words were fluent, and he sounded so confident.

"Then who are the elders?"

"They are the elders," his answer was fast, he had practically said it before I had finished speaking. He looked at me like his answer made complete sense, and I knew I would get nothing more out of him on the matter. I let out a rather frustrated growl.

"Fine, can I ask the elders in person then?" This was already not going as well as planned. I couldn't tell that he wasn't going to answer me, I could practically feel the irritation coming off him.

"That is for the elders to decide." He smirked at me as if egging me on. He was teasing me, and I was having none of it.

Oh, if looks could kill.

I glared at Osiris, before sighing in defeat. I didn't have the energy to throw quips with him. I had other questions to ask, and I didn't know how much longer I wanted to be here. Wherever here was.

"Back in the cell, did I die?" This had been nagging at my subconscious since it had happened since Godric had said it. That I was dead.

Osiris seemed to freeze, he stood in a rigid position, his eyes leaving mine for the first time. He looked troubled.

"Not technically," the answer was short, and not near a good enough explanation. What the fuck did not technically mean.

"I'm not sure what happened, none of us are. An Umbra has the power to bestow death, not to stop it." He looked as confused as I was, as though I was an enigma. A monster.

I swallowed hard, I needed a change of subject, something else to take over the screaming in my mind. Monster.

"You are not a monster. We are not monsters." His voice was firm, he had been able to tell what I was thinking, or my face had just given it away. Something about the way his face moved made me think the first. Could he tell what I was thinking?

"What are we then?" my lip quivered, and if I could breathe, I had no doubt I would be choking. He had told me before, what I was, and I knew it in my heart he hadn't lied then, but I had to know if there was anything else. I needed hope that I wasn't a monster.

"We are death Alea. We are what lurks in the shadows, here to drag people to purgatory, to their final judgment," his hand flashed out to his side, his arms fully extended to each side. He was showing this place off. I glanced around me, the greys completely still, as though time didn't affect this place.

Because time didn't affect it.

"We are the masters of purgatory, the humans have called us many names over the years, the boogeyman, the grim reaper."

I was frozen solid, unable to move as his eyes landed on mine. They were full of understanding like he knew I was having a hard time grasping this. He continued speaking.

"We are the masters of Death, we are Umbra," I fell to my knees. No, no. None of this made sense, I don't know if I wanted it to.

"You, you didn't answer my question" I swallowed hard, as I glanced my eyes up to meet his once again. I was trembling, and I felt so small in this place, I wanted desperately to be in charge of this situation, to stand tall and take my destiny with pride, but I could only cower.

"If I didn't die, then what happened?" He looked like he didn't have the words like he had no idea either.

"As you lied on the floor of that cell, your heart stopped beating. I expected I was going to have to take you to the elders, having failed my mission." He seemed to smirk, looking at me with a proud look in his eyes, "But it seemed as though your will to live saved you, your powers pulled you from death, it truly was a marvelous sight. The elders were just as astonished when I told them, an Umbra that could reverse deaths hold." Reverse death. Maybe I wasn't doomed yet. I felt a tug of hope pull at my busted soul, not a monster.

I managed to stand on two shaky feet, rubbing my right arm with my left hand. The comfort of the action outweighed the odd feeling of not feeling. I was done talking about this, I just wanted to get out, I glanced behind me at Godric and Eric.

To get back to them.

"So how do I get out of this mess," I managed to say, in a timid voice, I felt his presence in front of me in an instant, his hand soft on my head. I glanced up at him, only briefly wondering how he managed to cross the room quickly. His eyes held an understanding like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"That's a bit trickier, see, we can die, it is rather hard to kill us, but it can happen, and right now you're in a rather precarious situation." So, I was out of luck then, I stared back at my body, the body that was most likely about to cease to exist.

"But tearing someone's mortal soul from their body isn't the only thing that we can do," He seemed to smile. His eyes held a look of wonder. Like he was about to tell me a secret.

"We are the masters of purgatory, and purgatory is nothing but the shadows. Anywhere there is a shadow, you can manipulate purgatory.

He stretched out his hand to the left side of his body, before taking a deep breath and clenching his fist. I watched in awe as the shadow underneath my body, the one that was still suspended, seemed to sulk towards him, before filing up to fit in his hand in a neat ball.

With a hard flick of his wrist shadows from around the room flung to where the man with the bomb was standing, surrounding him. He was no longer visible, surrounded in a black mist, it looked like an immovable wall, the darkness sucking in all light. I was astounded.

"The shadows will absorb the impact, no one will be harmed." It sounded so easy, so natural. He motioned towards my body.

"When you are ready to return simply touch your body, it will pull you back. I will release the shadows once the danger has been averted." I could only nod dumbly at him. His face still held a small smile.

"Good luck, parvulus." I smiled, I still didn't know what that meant, but it didn't sound like an insult. So, it couldn't be too bad. I took a deep breath, before extending my hand to my body. My body burned with heat under my fingertips, and I gasped, for the first time since opening my eyes I felt. It was an odd sensation after having been without it.

"Thank you, Osiris," were the last words out of my mouth as I felt my body pull me back, it was sharp and harsh. The last thing that I heard before fully regaining consciousness being the soft sound of Osiris's laugh.

"See you soon, parvulus,"

When I opened my eyes again the room was covered in color once again. Except for the area right in front of me. As promised, the black of the shadows had covered the explosion. The shadows seemed to bend and swirl, they looked alive as they held back the explosion beneath them. They slowly began to slink away as I lowered my hand, they crawled back to their rightful places on the floor, the people watched them with sickening awe. Some of them jumping as the shadows returned to them. The room was silent, even as the last shadow had taken its place, everyone was too stunned to move.

Where the bomb had gone off was an absolute shit show. It was completely black, and what used to be a body was now just mangled bits of flesh. Scattered around the small area. The floor was completely torn up, revealing the concrete underneath. It was sickening, and I had to fight the urge to gag.

"Alea!" The voice was desperate, and in an instant, I felt myself be flipped around and smashed rather harshly into a hard chest. The cool chill that came from the body chilled me to the core. I still wasn't used to the temperature difference.

I knew immediately who it was, Godric's distinct smell invaded my nose, and it helped to calm my erratic heartbeat. I clung to him a little harder, trying desperately to fall away from the crowd, to just fade into the shadows, away from the eyes that I felt on my back.

As I pulled back, I kept my eyes down, I didn't want to see his eyes. The endless memories of my father's angry steel eyes bore into my mind. I didn't want to see him angry at me, I don't think I could bear it. I went to speak but was cut rather short, as I felt another tug, and I was pulled into another set of arms.

I felt completely swallowed by Eric's imposing form, he didn't seem like the type of person to just give hugs, so I was surprised, to say the least. He felt stiff, as though he wasn't sure what he was doing, as though the action was foreign to him.

That didn't stop me from wrapping my arms around his waist, the best that I could, and hugging him as I had Godric. His grip seemed to tighten as I accepted his hold, his head burrowed into my hair, I could feel his deep inhale against the top of my skull. He whispered words into the top of my head in another tongue, I had no idea what he was saying, but he said it with such sincerity that I couldn't help but fall further into him. His smell perfectly meddled with Godric's, and for the first time, I knew what someone smelled like. Or at least a variation of what he smelled like.

He smelt like water, and it seemed almost salty, it was comforting, and I felt myself become absorbed in it. When he pulled back, I realized again just where we were. I managed a quick look around the room. His hands stayed planted on my shoulders and I felt his eyes roam my body as he checked for damage.

The room was completely silent, you could have heard a pin drop. I sucked in a sharp breath as I looked back down, trying my best to avoid the burning eyes. Everyone in the room looked starstruck, absolutely stunned silent. I couldn't tell exactly what event was causing their reaction. The last few seconds had been a blur. They were probably still processing it.

I shuddered as I kept my head down, this was all too much. Their eyes bore into my skin, and I tried desperately to reign in my emotions. It was Eric's hand on my chin that pulled me out of my stupor. He lifted my head to meet his eyes, and I flinched as he did. Expecting the rage, at my foolishness, at my impulsive action. I was met with something unexpected.

Worry. His eyes held worry as I had never seen. It was not befitting of the giant. His confident smirk replaced with a deep frown. I felt the need to comfort him, I didn't like the look of distress on his face. Much like I didn't like the look of defeat on Godric's.

"You truly are an interesting breather," his words lacked the normal cocky undertone they normally held, I wonder if he noticed. Was I just hearing things? His words sounded warm and fluid. Like he was no longer hiding them behind a mask.

"You are never to do something like that again," his words were harsh, and he looked confused that them. I felt myself jump at the tone. It was like he wasn't sure why he was saying them, I gave him a small smile, and grabbed the hand that was at my chin with my own, trying my best to convey my apology.

I nodded, and he seemed to accept the answer as he let me go, slightly turning me around, no doubt towards Godric. I kept my head up this time and was met with a similar look in Godric's eyes. The relief on his face seemed to outweigh the feeling of stress that came off him. Had I worried them this bad?

"Why would you do that little one?" his voice was soft as he grabbed my hand, squeezing hard. He assessed me quickly with his eyes as if checking to make sure I wasn't harmed.

"I couldn't let you guys be hurt," my answer sounded simple in my head, and Godric looked surprised before a chuckle came to his lips.

"I have never met someone so willing to risk their lives to save people they have just met, let alone vampires they just met," he patted my head softly, as though assuring that I wasn't going anywhere before he turned to face the other vampires.

He glanced then at the space on the floor, a troubled look on his face, before turning back to me.

"I believe we have some things to discuss, but first let me address the others," his voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed the tone. I could hear the quiver in his voice, the way that it seemed to jump at the ends of his words. He was confused, almost scared.

Godric had turned back to the vampire crowd around us, they still hadn't moved and the shocked looks still hadn't left their faces. They just stared at Godric, waiting for him to take their worries away.

"My good people, I'd say this place has seen enough for the evening." His voice as soft against the silence.

"Let us reconvene at the Hotel Castavana, we will ensure that there are no other fellowship members lurking about, then tomorrow night you will all be able to return to your homes." The vampires hesitated for but a second before shuffling towards the door, no one had said a word, no one questioned Godric.

It wasn't long before the only ones in the room were Godric, Eric, Sookie, Bill and I. Bill must have rushed back in at the sound of the explosion. He stood at Sookie's side protectively, glaring daggers at Eric. I glanced between the two, Eric once again had a smirk on his face. He looked like he was just doing it to irritate Bill, and damn was it working.

Sookie was still staring at the muddled flesh on the ground where the bomber had once been. She looked as stunned as I felt. To them it had passed in an instant, it felt so odd. I spared a glanced at the shadow at my feet, I hadn't been here. I was suspended in time, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"Girly I don't know how you did that, but I can't thank you enough," She glanced around the still immaculate room.

"I don't know if we would have made it without whatever you did." She seemed to pause, glancing back at the circle on the ground, "what did you do."

I wasn't sure how to answer. I wasn't even completely sure what had happened, I swallowed hard.

"Miss Stackhouse, I believe Alea has had enough thrown at her tonight, why don't we leave the questions for later," Eric said, his voice rather strained, his message quite clear. That wasn't a question for her to ask. Sookie seemed to pick up on this, and she gulped. She looked scared, I did my best to offer her a smile, my own hands shaking.

She offered a small one back, before turning to Bill, her voice quivering as she spoke.

"We should probably get out of here too," Bill just nodded, sparing a glance at the three of us across from them.

"Your rooms have been arranged, and Sookie," the cockiness had returned to Eric's voice, along with something else. It was heavy and sent a shiver down my spine.

"Thank you for your help," I couldn't tell if he had meant the compliment, or if he was doing it as a scare tactic of some kind, but Sookie seemed to take it as the ladder. Her face seemed to pale as she clutched Bill's shirt. In an instant, they were gone, and I was left in the room with Eric and Godric. I turned to face them, their eyes on me at every turn. It felt like I was being chased, no.

Hunted, and they looked hungry.

I swallowed down my fear and shook my head. I was being crazy I have never felt so safe in my life. Like I felt when I was around the two vampires in front of me. I tried to take a deep breath.

"If it's too hard for you, little one," Godric started the sentence, causing me to glance up at him. His eyes held were full of understanding, and it helped to calm my nerves. The sight that I had seen earlier all but gone, I took a deep breath.

Maybe I was going crazy.

"We have an eternity to hear about it," Eric's voice followed after Godric's, it was calm and had a hint of promise. Godric seemed to throw a look of discontent at Eric, who promptly ignored the simmering glance. Instead, choosing to focus his eyes on me.

"An eternity?" I mumbled, glancing away from their faces laughing at the quip. It was another joke?

Neither of the vampires said anything about it, but I knew they heard at me. They seemed to glance at each other in understanding, and I felt the heat rise in my chest. I was missing something here. The heat raised to my face, and I felt my cheeks flush.

"But if you wish to tell us now, we are listening," Godric's soft tone washed away any embarrassment, and I reveled in the warmth of his words. His smell still lingered in my nose, mixed with Eric's. The comfort of it gave me the will to speak.

"I'm not sure where to start…" I managed out, bringing my hands up to rub the goosebumps off my arms. My voice sounded hoarse and I wondered if it would ever sound normal. If I would ever speak as smoothly as the two in front of me, I sighed and rubbed at my arms faster. I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Wherever you want, little breather?" Eric chuckled, "how about the beginning." I rubbed my arms a little harder, glancing at the 'body' on the ground, I swallowed hard.

"I don't mind telling you guys, but can we go outside?" I glanced up slightly, catching Godric's eyes. Being in this room was making me sick, and I felt so closed in.

"Of course, little one," Godric extended his arm to me, and I happily accepted it. Walking towards the front door with Eric right behind us.

When he had finally made it outside it felt like the weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I glanced up at the sky, finding peace in its presence. I managed to sit down on the step down from the door, bringing my knees up to my chest. The glass from the windows of the house was scattered everywhere, but I managed to sit comfortably without sitting on any stray pieces. Eric and Godric took my motion as an invitation. They each sat at my side, Eric on the left, Godric on the right. They were so close I could feel the texture of their clothes against my skin. It did little to stop the chill from spreading through my body at the feel of their unnaturally cold skin.

"The beginning," I mumbled, before finally tearing my eyes away from the sky. I glanced to the ground, to before my gaze finally settled on my hands.

"It was hard to keep track of time. I wasn't allowed a clock, I didn't even know if it was daytime or night. The only real indication of my age came with my single relief a year. My birthday, and even then, I don't know what day it was."

I felt a smile come to my face, as I recalled the intricate cakes that father would bring me. A new dress for me to wear for the year. I felt a shiver run down my spine.

The agony of the day after.

"I can remember celebrating 19 times. I'm not sure how old I was when I started keeping track," I blew a stray hair away from my eyes, I kept my voice steady the best that I could. I could feel their eyes on me, it was haunting, and I tried to ignore their gazes, it just felt so foreign. To be watched.

"From the moment that I can remember I have been locked up, in the basement of my father's house. A few weeks ago, I escaped. What happened before I escaped doesn't matter," I took a deep breath, "It's in the past, and I don't think it has quite settled yet, even thinking about it sends shivers down my spine." I felt a hand on mine, my right one to be exact. Godric had it gripped firmly in his. Neither of them interrupted my story, they just listened to my words. It was nice, to be heard.

"The only thing that you need to know, is that my father kept me locked up in an attempt to reveal my 'powers'." I shuddered, "And up until yesterday, I didn't actually believe they existed." I felt the shift now, as Eric leaned in closer, and Godric squeezed my hand to the point of pain.

"Well, we're waiting, little breather," Eric sounded impatient like the curiosity was killing him.

"I am," I stopped my sentence, how do I say this? Do I even really believe it at this point. I felt my lip quiver as the shadow of the man at the church invaded my subconscious. His dead body sprawled across the floor. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I couldn't stop them from falling. Godric seemed to flinch beside me, automatically lessening his hold on my hand.

"You don't have to tell us, little one- "

"Death," the words sounded like poison on my tongue. Godric and Eric both seemed to flinch at the sound. I slipped my hand from Godric's cool one and hugged myself. The sobs wracking my body.

"I am death," the words came out broken, and now that I finally had the time to register the words in the open, I couldn't stop the tears. I couldn't stop the feeling of despair. I was a monster.

Now they knew that too.

"That's why the man in the church died, it's why I ran at that bomb." I tried my best to breathe between the sobs, neither of the vampires at my sides seemed to know what to do. They were stunned to silence as I continued to talk.

"Umbra," I flinched at the sound, it came from Godric's parted lips. He looked at me like he had seen a ghost, he looked terrified. Another sob hit me as I saw it.

"What is an Umbra, maker." Eric still hugged close to my body, as though he couldn't think of any other way to help with my rather sudden outburst.

"They are messengers of the other side, the shadow walkers," he looked surprised, as though I wasn't supposed to be there. Because I wasn't.

"They are just legends, something that I have heard of sparsely over the years, since my time as a human," he seemed to shudder.

"They have been spoken of well before that." He touched my face, I expected him to flinch away, but he instead whipped away my tears, pulling my face up so my eyes would meet his. He had to be disgusted, my tears staining his fingers black. He had to hate me.

"Oh, little one," he pulled me against him, holding me tight as I broke down.

"When did you learn," his question rang against the top of my head. He didn't lessen his hold.

"Before we met in the cell, when I was on the ground," when I was dead.

"It was confirmed before the bomb went off. Something, no, someone pulled me into the shadows. Purgatory." I shook hard in Godric's firm hold.

"He told me everything, or at least, he told me enough," I took a deep breath and pulled back,

"Osiris," I said his name involuntarily, and Godric seemed startled at the sound. His eyes shone with recognition, and I felt confused at the sight. Did he know Osiris?

"Are you okay?" The question came from behind me, it sounded clumsy like Eric didn't know what else to say. I simply nodded, knowing that he would see the motion. I reached my hand behind me and he grabbed it in an instant, I hoped that that motion would be enough to show him. Show him that I was okay, to set his mind at ease.

"I think this has been a rather eventful night," Godric said with a somewhat forced chuckle, as though he was trying to lessen the situation. "Perhaps it is time to reconvene with the others and get some sleep." I felt tired, more tired than I had ever been, but there was something else they needed to know first. I swallowed my fear.

"Wait," I managed out, my voice cracking. "There's one other thing that I need to tell you both." Godric looked intrigued, that I had more to say. I was just glad his eyes no longer held fear.

"My father, he still searches for me, Osiris said that he's getting close, that you would be able to help me," I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought of seeing my father again, at the sight of his eyes.

"You have already done so much for me, but. Could you help me with him too?" My question was terrifying. I didn't want to leave them. Ever really. I wanted to bask in their comfort forever, but if they ever wanted me to leave, I would without question. I just hoped that that day didn't come for a while. I felt an acidic taste raise to my tongue, and I had to force myself to swallow it down.

"Little one, we will help with whatever you need," Godric's voice held an authoritative tone.

"You never have to worry again," He finished the sentence strong, never breaking eye contact.

"No one will mess with you, I promise," there was a chuckle behind me. "No one would dare to mess with Eric Northman, let alone with Godric Gaul." I felt like a weight come off me, and I struggled out a harsh breath. I didn't feel like this was real. How had I gotten so lucky as to have found them?

"What is your father's name, little one?" Godric s voice was back to its normal soft tone, as he went to stand. Extending his hand down to help me up. I took it and stood next to him.

"Edger Grey," The words left a sour taste in my mouth, and I felt myself curl in closer to Godric as if trying to escape a man who wasn't there.

"Well, that could complicate things," Eric seemed to mumble behind me.

I looked to Godric with confusion in my eyes, he seemed to understand and answered with a shaky breath.

"I have known Edger for a very long time," he seemed to pause as if weighing his words. His hands clenched into fists.

"He is a vampire."


Authors note:

I didn't expect this to get so many positive reviews, but I am beyond glad that you guys seem to be enjoying my story so far! I will keep on trying to update regularly, but as school speeds up I can't promise anything.

Fun fact: The song that made me decide to write this story was Antidote by Faith Marie. If you guys want to see what inspired me.

That's all, for now, my lovelies, please let me know what you think of this chapter. Je t'aime.