That was three days ago. Now, we were currently being taken in to the Vampire Authority's studio that they use for live broadcasting. I wrung my hands nervously. I wasn't exactly nervous about being on TV per se; rather, I was nervous about what effect this could have on the delicate weavings war was slowly introducing into our world. Humans had been made aware that other supernatural beings existed—a fact that terrified most of them into hostility. They fear the unknown and the misunderstood. The supernatural is both.
"Are you alright?" Godric asked me quietly. I forced a smile at him, placing my palm to his cheek and drawing him in for a kiss.
"I'm sorry I've been so horrible to you lately," I admitted.
"It doesn't matter," he waved it aside, pulling me against him. "I will stand by your decisions because I love you." I pulled away from him slightly, a smile crossing my face.
"I love you, too." He returned my smile, leaning in to kiss me.
"I hate to interrupt," Nan Flanagan said loudly, "but we need to seat you on the couches now." She shot a triumphant smirk at ruining such a Kodak moment and strutted over to the chair reserved for her.
"If I wasn't afraid of the consequences, I would stake her," I grumbled.
"I heard that, mutt."
"I'm glad, hag." She huffed, her features tightening in anger, as the camera men began the countdown until we were on air. I settled into the side of the couch closest to Nan, as had been discussed. Godric sat on my other side.
"We're live in five, four, three," the director said, silently counting down to zero after that.
"We have Nan Flanagan here live to tell us a little more about the issues at hand," the female reporter announced smoothly. "Nan?"
"Hi Jennifer," Nan replied just as smoothly, her surly nature disappearing in a flash. The smile on her face almost made me forget how much of a bitch she really was. Almost. "I'd like to introduce my two companions, Godric and Aline Herveaux."
"Welcome Godric and Aline," Jennifer said brightly. "Are you both vampires?"
"Godric is but I am not," I replied.
"Oh? Are you part of another supernatural clan that has just made their existences known?"
"I am."
"Could you enlighten our viewers as to what exactly that is?"
"I'm half werewolf and half fae."
"Werewolf? I thought they were all big surly men."
"Hardly," I smiled with a chuckle.
"Learn something new every day. But you said that you're part fae?"
"Yes."
"Aren't faeries and vampires supposed to be enemies?"
"Werewolves and faeries should be, too," I pointed out lightly. "But it really just depends on that particular person. I'd liken it to the human notion of being racist."
"That's an interesting way to look at it. How long have the two of you been a couple?"
"Aline has been my mate for just shy of three years," Godric answered.
"That's wonderful," Jennifer replied honestly. She was certainly human—but more fascinated with our existences than anything else. "I have been told that you two are going to be the new faces for the peaceful regime in this war. Is this true?"
"It is," I replied with a nod. "We're living examples that not only can we peacefully coexist but we can also form friendships and partnerships with one another."
"And the American Vampire League is in favor of coexistence with all races, not just humans?"
"We believe that all beings should have equal rights," Nan replied. "Vamprie, werewolf, faerie—it doesn't really matter much to us. We have all existed within the same existence for centuries without very many problems. I refuse to believe that one incapable vampire maker should be responsible for all of our fates."
"I certainly agree with you. But surely there are vampires who disagree."
"Of course there are. We have opposition in politics that are no different from the Republicans and Democrats that mainstream your politics. However, the majority of us do seek equal rights. And those that do not are reprimanded within our Authority."
"Similar to our prisons, right?"
"Right." Nan had a good poker face, I'd give her that. Eric and Godric had told me some stories about the AVL and the Authority before actually meeting some of them. And they were not pretty stories. They were nothing like human prisons. But a little wool over their eyes wouldn't hurt.
"Well, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us but we've run out of time."
"Thank you for having us on," Nan flashed a pretty smile as the cameras went off air. She took her microphone off followed by her earpiece. Her expression was immediately normal again—neutral with just a touch of revulsion.
"You handle yourself fairly well on television," she commented. "Ever thought about becoming an on air personality?"
"No," I shook my head. "I don't particularly like being on camera." I found the nearest bathroom to wash the makeup off of my face. It's something I hardly ever wear because my skin seems to greatly dislike it. So I try not to wear it for too long on the days that I'm forced into wearing it. As I was washing it off, I wondered if Alcide and Jackson would have seen the broadcast. Surely somehow the news would get back to them. I frowned. Alcide would kick my ass from here to next Thursday for not letting him big brother me. And Jackson would more than likely give me a few earfuls. I sighed. Damage control would be enforced if need be. Until then, I had bigger things to worry about.
Godric was waiting for me patiently when I emerged from the bathroom. "The Authority has requested our presence."
"The entire Authority?"
He nodded. "Nan received a phone call from the Guardian." I bit back the nervous laugh that threatened to break free and simply nodded. He grasped my hand in reassurance, gently leading me to where Nan was waiting. The three of us piled into the car that was waiting outside. She opted to sit up front with the driver. (She never has liked me much. The feeling is mutual.)
The ride there was quiet and, about twenty or so minutes from their Headquarters, Nan made us slip on blindfolds. When the car pulled to a halt, she and the driver (whose name I had learned was Hayes) helped us into the building. We went down several stories in an elevator before Nan was ordered to take our blindfold off. She pulled mine off, giving a rather unhappy look to the man and woman who stood before us.
"Aline Herveaux and Godric of Gaul," she introduced us. "This is the Guardian and Chancellor Salome." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Well I'll be damned. I wonder how many other Biblical figures are running around unnoticed by society? Certainly food for thought at a later date.
"Your interview was quite impressive," Salome spoke warmly to us. Her voice held a distinctly unrecognizable accent similar to Godric's. Then again, he had mentioned that he was older than Jesus. They must be close in age.
"It was quite impressive," the Guardian nodded.
"I hope that it will gain us some positive momentum among other races." Her lips curved back into a smile. It didn't take me very long to figure out that she would have to be regarded with some suspicion. She appeared to be the type of person to use her charms to her advantage when she wanted something. It made me inclined to like her more than my previous notions had allowed.
"The others are waiting." The Guardian and Salome led us to a room with a large table as its main attraction. There were a few other vampires seated around the table and they all looked up expectantly when we entered. Two empty seats were at the end of the table. "Please, have a seat."
Godric and I took those seats as Salome and the Guardian took what I presumed to be their regular seats. "You don't smell very much like a faery," the child vampire addressed me, his eyes regarding me with suspicion.
"I can mask my scent," I replied, studying him. I had the funny feeling I was about to greatly dislike him.
"You don't smell like a wolf, either."
"I can mask my scent," I repeated patiently. Godric grasped my hand with a gentle, warning squeeze. Roman, the Guardian, waved his hand dismissively.
"It doesn't really matter what you smell like. Humans can't smell that anyway."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," a vampire explained as she ran into the room. She must work in a more technical department, I guessed. "But you really need to turn on the news."
"Now is not the time for you to turn into an activist," the short-haired redhead frowned at the woman. The latter of the two shot the former a dirty look as she made a grab for the remote on the table. She began punching in numbers until it settled on the news channel.
"I just—oh, just watch it!"
A vampire was holding up a man's spine on live television. I stared, slack jawed, at the man. He licked his fingers, before pushing the dead man out of his chair. "Equal rights? Why would we seek equal rights with you? You are not our equals," he smiled maliciously.
"Who is that?" I asked Godric quietly.
"That is Russell Edgington," he murmured, eyes glued to the screen. His entire attention was on the television. And he looked anything but pleased. I had never seen him so…I'm not even sure how to describe it. It's almost like he shut down out of anger?
"We will eat you—after we eat your children," Edgington concluded with a delightfully malevolent smile. "Now time for the weather, Tiffany?"
Roman switched off the television quietly. Before any of us had time to process what was happening, the Guardian had punched a hole into the heavy stone wall. I think the rest of us were too shocked and lamented to properly react. That crazy son of a bitch had just destroyed several solid days—and years before that—of hard work toward the goal of coexistence. All it took was five minutes to shatter everything. Five fucking minutes. I wanted to smack my head off of the table in front of me.
Godric sensed this emotion and shot me a look of sympathy. He evidently felt the same way. Whatever had been going through his mind earlier was clearly gone now.
"Well, that certainly puts a damper on things," Salome noted.
"That's one word for it," Roman agreed, wiping dried blood off of his knuckles.
"How are we going to deal with this?" the vampire child demanded. I still couldn't get over the fact that he was merely a small child. Then again, he's probably at least five times my age. That's also weird to think about considering that he looks ten.
"He pretty much just made our television stunt worthless," I muttered sourly. Then I decided that I wanted Russell Edgington's head on a silver platter right next to Bill Compton's. That would make me feel at least a little better about this whole thing.
"Your faerie relatives," Salome addressed me, "would they be willing to appear on television?"
"I can be persuasive," I replied, interested to see what they wanted to ask of them.
"Would they be willing to appear with a few of our well known faces?" Roman asked, picking up where Salome had left off.
"I'm sure I could work something out if it would help me. Kaelin still feels like he owes me the world for abandoning me here as a child. But some of them are also a little terrified that you're going to drain them like a juice-box."
"Ah, the notions of guilt," Salome chuckled. "I assure you, however, that we will not be drinking them dry. Is your father very influential in the Otherworld?"
"People tend to follow him. My one aunt and uncle have also pledged their allegiance to our side. There's at least a decent amount of pull behind him."
Roman nodded. He pressed a button on the intercom system that rested at the head of the table in front of his seat. "Please send in Nan Flanagan."
A few seconds later, she entered.
"Begin damage control. Arrange for the King of the, uh," he glanced at me for help.
"Water," I replied.
"King of the Water Fae and a few of his relatives to appear with you. Pull whatever familiar names out of your hat that you can."
"Yes, sir," she nodded curtly. Turning, she began to leave.
"Oh, and Nan." She stopped and faced him. "Try not to fuck this one up. One more and you're done." Her mouth tightened. She left us. "Right, now back to the original order of business." He resumed sitting next to Salome and the child vampire. "We had been going to host a small celebration in your honor but that seems rather superfluous at the moment. Instead, I wanted to speak to you about Queen Sophie Ann."
"What for?" I asked curiously.
"It seems that she wanted to hold you captive against your will a few years ago." I remained silent, staring at him evenly. "I figured the rumors were probably true. Especially after the information came from one of her most loyal servants."
"Two of them, actually," Salome agreed. "One not so loyal. But that worked to our advantage." I must have looked extremely confused because she sent me a reassuring smile. "Eric Northman and William Compton."
"Your progeny is rather protective of her," the redheaded woman remarked. "I didn't really understand why until I saw the two of you together."
"Which is precisely why she has been fired from her post as queen," Roman continued. I looked at Godric in surprise. He had on his vampire poker face so he was hiding his surprise well, but I felt a glimpse of it dash across our bond. "We wish to offer the position to Godric, if he'll have it."
Godric studied Roman quietly. "I am flattered by this offer," he began slowly, almost as if the words were foreign upon his tongue. (Which, I guess that they actually are. His native language died several centuries over.) "But I must respectfully decline it."
"Is there any particular reason?" Salome asked, her eyes calculating him.
"I have never really had much of a desire for it," he admitted, "and I have found a better use for my time." A smirk graced his features as he squeezed my hand. "There would be no use for me to rule over Louisiana."
"I see," Roman mused.
"What about Northman? He is Sheriff of Area Five," the child vampire suggested.
"What are your thoughts on the matter? As his maker?"
All eyes turned to Godric.
"I would say that that is a very wise decision," Godric smiled lightly. "Eric would be happy with that offer. And I do believe that he would make a fine King."
"He does make a fine Sheriff," Salome agreed. She turned to Roman, her eyes clearly bearing the answer. He glanced around the table. Nobody disagreed. "That's settled then. One of us will be there by tomorrow night to crown him."
Vampires kind of work like the government as a façade. But, for the most part, they're more controlling than that. Anyone who is in power is also powerless. But I suppose our government is exactly the same way. Never mind. They are like the government. Just more badass. And certainly far more civilized than werewolves are in this manner. They don't eat each other. (At least not that I know of. I asked Marc once before and he denied that they did. But Marc denied a lot that was true. I'll have to ask Godric at a later date.)
"That is all, you're dismissed. There is a car waiting out front for you," Roman smiled influentially at Salome.
"I'll escort you out," she replied dutifully as she rose. She led us out so gracefully that I had to double check that she was actually walking. There were some vampires that could fly simply because of how old they were. Both Eric and Godric were able to. It was quite impressive, really. That surely meant that Salome could as well.
She entered the security code into the elevator to bring us to the main floor. After that, she even walked us out to the car. "It was wonderful to meet you, Aline," she clasped my hand as I went to get into the car. "You greatly intrigue me. I look forward to seeing you again." With a smile and a gentle squeeze of my hand, she turned and walked back to the Authority's headquarters. I got in the car with an expression of confusion written clearly on my face.
"Sometimes I fear that you are too well liked," Godric admitted as he slid into the car next to me. I noted that Hayes was once again our driver.
"Don't worry," I reassured him, "I do, too." He chuckled, pulling me against him. "But I did tell you that I wasn't going to make this easy for you."
"And you most certainly haven't." He ran his fingers through my hair, calming the jittery nerves that Russell's spine-ripping-habits had conjured in the pits of my stomach. I nestled further against him, anxious to see Eric's face whenever he was propositioned to be king. No doubt he would have that silly triumphant Viking smirk plastered on his face. A smile spread across mine.
My god, I love my vampire family. Pam included.
I'm simply atrocious at updating. Sorry about that. But I kept getting your reviews, favorites, etc., in my inbox sooooo I forced myself to continue the story. Time is very much not my friend at the moment (eek, three jobs!), but I'll TRY to keep updating this. Just keep giving me those nudges. ;)
I unfortunately don't remember where I stopped thanking people and all of that stuff. So, just know that I appreciate ALL of you very dearly. You're the only reason that this even got posted.
Also: I just had to include Russell Edgington's little newscaster stint. One of my favorite scenes from True Blood. Oddly likeable villain and all.
Enjoy.
~Lynn