When Godric and Eric rose from their slumber that evening, they joined us in the kitchen. Eric was rather surprised that both Alcide and Jackson had offered to stay until dark with Sookie and I. Well, I was barely in attendance. I was more so examining my nails. Even though Michael was around—somewhere. I had a feeling he was probably being given some super secret orders or something. That's what I usually chalk up his flakiness to. Because, let's face it, angels aren't exactly known for being unreliable. At least not Michael. I wondered again why exactly he was protecting me. Any time I inquired too closely to the subject, he would shut me down and lock out any answers I could possibly glean from him. Even most of his thoughts were safe from my telepathy. I knew it was probably for my own cosmic well being (whatever that meant) but it still made me a little uneasy that I couldn't pinpoint exactly what, when, where, and whom with that man. Lately I've been learning that I'm more of a control freak than usual. Or I'm just admitting it more than usual. (More like admitting it more than ever.)

A shiver ran down my spine, setting a certain coldness within my chest. I was going to find out exactly why Michael was here. And if it would cost me anything like Nahla and Kaelin had neglected to tell me. Surely there was some debt I was incurring as part of being protected by the Archangel of War. I'm sure there were bigger things to tend to other than some twenty-one-year-old werewolf/faerie hybrid.

"Aline?" Alcide raised his eyebrows at me. I looked up from my fingernails to find everyone at the table staring at me.

"Oh, uhm, what? I'm sorry," I apologized vaguely. They exchanged glances. "I'm fine," I snapped. Eric's blue eyes snapped to mine, a frown on his face. I held his attention until he looked away. My gaze slid back to Alcide.

"We were talking about leaving Dallas tonight," he began slowly, still scrutinizing me. I stifled the irritation rising in the back of my throat, forcing my face into a mask totally devoid of emotion. "We weren't sure what would be the best way to transfer you back." Transfer me back? It made me sound like an article of clothing, I noted dryly.

"You would always be able to fly with Eric, Sookie, and myself," Godric transitioned smoothly. "But your brother and your father were curious if you would like to ride back with them."

"Wouldn't it be suspicious for me to ride with you?" I questioned. "Edgington would expect you to never leave me out of your sight—if nothing else."

"Aline, are you alright?" Sookie asked, concern and warmth filling her eyes.

"I'm fine," I muttered, pushing myself away from the table and stalking out of the room. There was a murmur of voices in the room after I left. Quite clearly, my abrupt exit had raised some questions in their minds. I retreated to Godric's room, staring out into the Dallas skyline. The door softly opened behind me. I didn't have to look to know that it would be Godric. My suspicions were confirmed when a pair of cool arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his frame. I settled against him silently, not turning my gaze away from the window.

"Aline, what's wrong?" He prodded gently. When I didn't answer, he sighed. "We're worried about you."

"What do you know about Michael?" I inquired lightly.

"Not very much. Only what has been handed down through time," he admitted. "Is that what's bothering you?"

"Not entirely. I'm confused as to why he's here, first of all. But I'm more concerned about the wary feeling I get whenever I think about it. And the fact that he's less than willing to share anything about it—well, I just don't like the whole idea after what Kaelin and Nahla did. There has to be some kind of debt I'm getting myself involved with that I don't even want to incur." I pulled away slightly to face him. "Or am I just insane?"

"No, I've been wondering the same thing myself." There was a brief moment of silence. "You're going to get the information out of him, aren't you?"

I nodded. "One way or another." An idea began forming in the back of my mind. Godric noticed the emotion flit across my face.

"I always get a little worried when you have that look on your face."

"Don't worry. You and Eric are safe from my musings." I pulled away from him, then, and turned to leave the room. I paused with my hand on the doorknob. "I'll fly with the three of you. Alcide and Jackson should head back to Mississippi without any news of my reappearance." I felt his stare on the back of my head. "Yes," I answered his silent question. I didn't need to use my telepathy to know that he knew of my plans.

"They don't have the right to know?"

"It's safer for them this way," I argued, turning my sharp blue eyes to his wide emerald ones. "They can't miss what they never got back, can they?"

Before he could argue any further, I pulled the door open and left. I entered the kitchen, drawing the attention of Eric, Sookie, Alcide, Jackson, and the newly returned Michael. The archangel's eyes were locked with mine. He knew that something had changed in my demeanor. And that I would no longer accept a runaround answer. I broke eye contact with him, turning to Eric and Sookie. "Eric, perhaps you should show Sookie around the property before we leave," I half-ordered him.

He opened his mouth to argue.

"Eric, listen to her," Godric replied from the doorway. He locked eyes with Godric, trying to read and feel his maker's emotions through their bond. When he couldn't, he ushered the very confused blonde quarter-fae out of the kitchen.

"Michael," I addressed him simply. The angel turned his eyes to face me. I didn't bother to seat myself at the table with the rest of them, neither did Godric. In fact, Godric didn't even come into the kitchen fully. Instead he remained in the doorway. A silent sign of resigned support. "I would like you to explain why exactly you're here."

"You know that I can't—"

"And don't feed me that bullshit line about it altering my ability to follow my designated path," I interrupted with a snap. He stared at me for a few moments before his mouth seemed to move of its own accord.

"There is going to be a war. It is why I was selected out of all other angels," he began. "You are to be a key instrument in this war because of your unique disposition to the world. The outcome of this war will either unite or permanently sever some connections within this realm."

"The war in the faerie realm?"

"It is a direct tie to the war that will be had here."

"They're going to be involved?"

"It will cease to be a civil war, yes."

"And the company that I keep?"

He was silent. I listened to his thoughts, picking up nothing other than the sharp metallic scent of blood.

"That's what I thought. You angels are no better than faeries," I hissed at him. "Deceit and deception will bring you nothing but misfortune."

"Aline, what the fuck is going on?" Alcide questioned. Dad, however, was studying us silently.

"We're going to die for her," Jackson replied, his eyes flicking from Michael to myself. Neither of us answered. "That is not such a bad death—"

"No," I replied. "No one is dying for me." I turned my head slightly to Godric, thinking of the close call I had had with him just a few days ago.

"Well you can't send us away," Alcide argued. "There's no way we would just leave you when there's a chance to help you."

"Not willingly," I relented. The two werewolves exchanged glances as I grabbed their hands. My blue eyes held the two of them at attention as my will overtook theirs. "After you leave here tonight, you will have no recollection of these events today. Or the phone call I made yesterday. You will still believe that I am dead. And it will be too painful to see any of my companions again. Just remember that I loved the both of you dearly. I always have and I always will. Instead of being in Dallas for me, you were in Dallas for a small job. A very kind old man who needed a new set of cabinets. It only took you a day to fashion and install them. He paid you handsomely. Direct deposit into the company savings account."

Alcide and Jackson were the first to leave Godric's now previous home. Both were under the assumption that they would be seeing me again next week. Until daybreak, at least. Then my glamour would override their memories. "What if they remember what happened?" Godric questioned once their truck was out of sight.

"There's a very, very remote chance of that happening," I replied dully. "And it's never happened before." He was silent. "I'm not happy with it, either. But I'd never forgive myself if they died for me. No matter how willingly they went."

"Are you going to do that to me? Or Eric? Or Sookie?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't think I can override your claim. And I think the faeries will want Sookie's help. Do you really think Eric would let her do that alone? He cares about her more than he's letting on." I rubbed my temples. "I know you don't approve of me tampering with their memories, but can you tone down the waves of emotions?"

"Sorry," I heard him say as I stepped off of the porch. I climbed into the car that was waiting with Sookie and Eric in the back. Michael was driving. Sookie immediately touched my hand in concern.

"Aline, what's going on?"

I offered her a sad, tired smile, patting her hand. Godric climbed into the front seat of the car beside Michael. The ride to the airport was silent. The five of us climbed aboard the plane that was waiting. Godric and Eric had bought every ticket on board it appeared. That was probably better. I could pass along the information to Sookie and Eric, now.

After the plane took off, I began my explanations. Sookie immediately looked concerned. "Aline, you shouldn't have done that—"

"I would do it to all of you, too, if I could. But the faeries will probably pull you into it," I reasoned, "and Eric won't like that. If Eric is involved, then Godric will surely get involved if I could even manage to override the bond we have." Michael nodded silently.

"The five of you are where you are supposed to be," he agreed with me. "Alcide and Jackson are supposed to be here as well. But you've gone and changed that."

"They've done less than anything even close to warranting such a demise. Besides, they only know me through chance. My mother was of no relation to the Herveaux. They have no obligation to be here."

"Not even if they want to be?" Eric questioned.

"Not even then."

He studied me with a shake of his head, getting up and going into what I presumed was the area that held all of the drinks. My suspicions were confirmed when he came back with a True Blood for himself and one for Godric a few moments later. The ride to Shreveport was uncomfortably silent and we arrived only an hour before dawn was supposed to break. By the time we had gotten back to Eric's home and the vampires had situated, dawn was beginning to break.

I stood at the window in the dining room, watching the sunrise. Gently, I began to sing:

"Arms out, arms out, turn into the spin. It's lovely and brief with just gravity and me. And if we choose to fall, who's to say it isn't flight? So here we go back again, it's lovely and brief with just gravity and me."

And, then, the day had risen. I turned away from the sunlight, back into the familiar spin of my thoughts.

TinkSalvatore24: Aline's name is pronounced A-leen. (So the shorter form, Ali, should be pronounced as A-lee.)

Jupiter Water Goddess: I'm fairly certain that some vampire poets would have graced the literary scene. I mean, there are vampire musicians, right? ;)

Birdy Main: Thanks for pointing this out, I'll have to take a closer look into it. (Revision is the bane of my existence, I swear.)

treewitch703: I revealed a bit in this chapter, but Michael is also an archangel of war. He'll really come into play a little further down the road.

MistressLoki1618, Anonymous, and OrangePlasticGummyBear thank you so much for reviewing!

I love reading all of your reviews. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. (Well, as much as is possible with Aline's stubborn streak. And something of a first fight between Aline and Godric.)

Keep an eye out for another update soon.

~Lynn

P.S. The title for this chapter as well as those lines from the song Aline sings are from a song titled "Into the Spin" by Dessa Darling of Doomtree. She's really unique as far as rappers are concerned. (Well, so is the whole collaborative, really. But she has a heavy classical background that this song exemplifies.) And it's one of her slightly more gentle songs. But I thought it fit very nicely. So I stake no claim into that little section of the story. It's entirely of Dessa's design and used at my leisure. Give it a listen here: /ucNDCRk_RvE