It was more than slightly unsettling at how easy the authority 'found' them. It wasn't lost on Godric or Kyrie the knowing look that was thrown their way courtesy of Eric. Nora herself stayed behind her makers sizing up the situation for herself. The vampire appeared before them out of the shadows.
They had barely been traveling a week in search of clue as to where the authority may be when the figure came out of nowhere to stand in their path. The vampire was tall and hooded wearing a long robe.
"Godric of Gaul." The male spoke out. "I heard you are searching for the vampire authority. Follow me and look no further." The figure began to walk in the direction they had been originally headed. Godric led them standing a few feet away from the hooded figure.
He led them to a large stone church. The stained glass windows were lit by chandeliers that hung inside casting a warm glow as if welcoming travelers. The vampire opened one of the large doors and stood aside. He outstretched a hand indicating for the group to go ahead of him inside.
Godric kept his stance casting his eyes at Kyrie indicating for her to go in first. She complied silently with Nora close behind her and Eric at her side. Godric waited until they were inside before following not taking his eyes off of the other vampire.
The space inside was open. The cathedral ceiling was wood and lined with heavy wooden beams. There were no pews only an open space. At the front of the church stood an altar where a man stood. The door behind them slammed shut heavily causing Nora to jump and Kyrie to flinch slightly.
The man behind the altar wore a robe identical to the others just with the hood down. The candles and torches lit the place well enough to make out his features. He had been middle aged when he was turned, thinning brown hair with sharp features.
"Godric of Gaul with his progenys once again. It is good to see you." The vampire said. Godric tilted his head recognizing the voice instantly. It was the same vampire that ahead let him go.
"I fear I never caught your name." Godric replied. The male smirked at him.
"I am Roman." He said simply. He walked around the altar approaching them slowly. "I understand why you are here Godric, I understand it all to well." Roman stated. "This pestilence that has struck the land is becoming concerning. While the humans are being wiped out so are our kind. You were right to seek us out. For the sake of our own survival we must band together."
Godric shifted his stance slightly listening intently. Kyrie glanced at Godric seeing resignation clear on his face. He was admitting defeat to himself to save them. Her heart felt as if it sunk into her stomach.
"However we can be of assistance we are glad to offer." He replied. Roman nodded at him the deal being sealed.
"Nothing but good things will come of this Godric. You are a very old vampire, not many live as long as you have. You deserve a position of power and respect..." Roman said.
"None of which I want or am seeking." Godric cut him off his tone taking on a slight edge.
"I believe that once you realize what I am offering you, you will reconsider. One hand washes the other." Roman stated with a knowing smirk. Kyrie closed her eyes momentarily knowing that the authority was going to back her maker into a corner he didn't want in order for their survival. He was going to use them to gain Godrics compliance. "Now if you would follow Salome she will show you to the dining hall. You all must feed before business is discussed.
The woman walked out from under an archway from the shadows. She wore a long white robe nearly the same color as her pale skin. Long black hair flowed down her back and shoulders. She approached the group smiling at them showing off her fangs.
"Please do follow me." She said her eyes falling on Nora. Kyrie heard her daughter shift behind her somewhat as if readying herself to obey the woman. Kyrie shot a glance back at her progeny that ceased Nora's movement.
Once again Godric was in the lead with Eric next to Kyrie and Nora. They were led down a flight of concrete steps to a larger room underneath the ground. A long wooden dining table was set in the middle of the room with ornate chairs set around it. "Please sit." Salome stated extending her hand out.
Godric waited until his progenys were seated before sitting himself. Salome exited the room to prepare their meal. The group remained silent surrounded by beautiful tapestries that hung from the walls and suits of armor propped up in elaborate battle poses with weapons drawn.
"It would appear the authority does not spare in decoration." Eric stated.
"It is quite extravagant. I have never seen anything the likes of it." Nora remarked her eyes roaming around the dining hall. Kyrie kept her eyes trained on her maker as he sat across from her. He stared straight ahead blankly. He was thinking. Kyrie opened her mouth to say something when Salome returned into the room with a large golden platter.
Golden goblets were set down in front of each of them as a large wooden cask was brought out by two hooded figures. The goblets were filled to the brim with blood. In a flash Nora had drank hers down and practically growling with delight. Eric took his time more liberally enjoying it as well. Kyrie brought hers to her lips realizing that Godric was not feeding, he still stared off barely blinking. She put hers down.
Nora and Erics cups were filled a few times as they continued to feed enjoying themselves in their contentment. Kyrie wanted to drink, she could smell the sweetness of the liquid that sat in front of her but refused to do so if Godric wasn't.
"Godric." She said bringing him out of his daze. His eyes refocused on her in a questioning manner. Kyrie raised her goblet up towards him. He glanced down at the one in front of him as if he were just seeing it and grasped it. Kyrie smiled slightly to herself bringing hers to her lips.
The liquid hit her palate and she suppressed the groan of satisfaction. Her stomach churned anxiously as she drank down the blood greedily. It was instantly gratifying. She set the goblet back down seeing that Godric had already finished his.
"I trust the meal is acceptable." Roman said as he entered the room. Godric gave a curt nod. "Now if you would join me Godric, Kyrie we can begin discussions." Roman stated. Kyrie glanced at Nora for a moment. The woman, Salome, was hovering around her daughter and she did not feel comfortable with her. "Nora will be fine, Eric may stay with her if he so wishes."
"How do you know her name?" Kyrie asked lashed out standing quickly. Her fangs descended.
"It is as I told your maker before, we will be in touch. Simply because you have not see us does not mean we have not been there." Roman replied. He gestured to be followed and exited the room. Godric glanced at Kyrie as she brought her fangs back up. Eric appeared nonchalant however was in full alert should anything happen.
The room Godric and Kyrie were brought into was lavish. Velvet red couches were held together on wooden frames inlaid with gold. A large fireplace crackled brightly. Long curtains sweeped the floor that was lined with a large rug beautifully woven. Roman motioned for the two to sit.
Kyrie and Godric sat close to one another so there was no space between them.
"As I said before I am glad you sought us out. With this disease sweeping the continents the way it has it has been difficult to conduct business affairs." Roman said.
"It would seem you are doing quite well for yourselves." Kyrie stated.
"Yes, we are fortunate enough to have resources." Roman replied. "We are willing to share in these resources however everyone must pull their own weight, as they say."
"Get to the point." Godric practically signed out clearly irritated with beating around the bush. Roman smirked at him slightly amused.
"There is a new world that has been settled in the last century. A group of Europeans set out to lay claim to what is now called North America. It is a harsh environment. One not suited for many, the vampires we have now in the authority would be ill equipped to travel and unable to establish any type of roots there." Roman said.
Kyrie brought her gaze to Godric as he stared at Roman. He was smirking.
"You wish for me to go there?" Godric asked.
"With a small group of vampires, yes. Humans are traveling to this new world by the ship loads. We must assert our own claim there while we still have a chance, while it is still a new world." Roman replied.
"And if he refuses?" Kyrie asked low in her throat.
"Godric understands that he is no position to refuse. He understood that the night Alypia met the true death." Roman said smirking. "I will go over the details with you tomorrow night. For now we go to ground." Roman said.
"May I have a moment with my progeny?" Godric asked. Roman nodded his head once and made his leave closing the door behind him. Godric stood placing his hands behind his back. The white shirt he wore was flimsy and in the well lit room Kyrie could make out the red brand on his back where the Romans had burned him, marking him a slave.
He placed his hands behind his back shaking his head slowly from side to side. Kyrie walked up behind him wrapping her arms around him and rested her head between his shoulder blades. He was stiff as a board.
"Kyrie, this is it." He practically whispered. She moved her head to his shoulder.
"What do you mean Godric?" She asked curiously.
"I doubt you will be allowed to travel with me, neither will Eric or Nora. The vampires that I am to travel with will not include any of you." He stated his voice holding no emotion behind it.
"Who cares what they say Godric. They can not say we will not travel with you." She said. With that Godric pulled away from her and turned around quickly. He grasped her by the shoulders tightly digging his fingers into her flesh until it hurt.
"Do you not understand the gravity of our situation? If the authority says we are to be separated then we are to be separated Kyrie. That is it." He stated his voice still dead pan as well as his expression. Kyrie only shook her head once, twice...Godric shook her roughly. "Yes!" He shouted his voice becoming anguished.
He pushed her away from him. The simple act caused Kyrie to cry out loudly. I hadn't hurt but it may as well have. She understood what was happening. She knew what Godric had meant.
"No Godric, don't." She whispered feeling her tears well in her eyes and fall down her cheeks in a bloody mess.
"Kyrie, as your maker I..."
Kyrie covered her ears and screamed shutting her eyes tightly. If she couldn't hear him then she couldn't obey, if she didn't see him mouth the words then they were not so. She was promptly knocked to the floor. She opened her eyes to see Godric laying on top of her with his full weight and strength pinning her hands above her head.
His fangs protruded from his mouth as he growled at her. "Stop being a child! Accept this! This is what it has come to, our relationship...I should have released you centuries ago but you, you made me weak! It's because of you we are in this position!" Godric shouted in her face. Kyrie flinched his words burning her straight to her soul.
The door opened widely. Eric stood in the door way his expression wide eyed and questioning.
"What is going on?" He asked taking in the scene before him. It was unlike any he had seen between his makers. They fought but never had he witnessed an altercation between them as this. Kyrie was in tears that appeared to be blinding her as she kept blinking. Godric pinned her to the floor and held her face tight with one hand. He fangs were down and he was angry, very angry.
"Not now Eric." Godric commanded. Eric took another step into the room.
"They're convincing Nora to stay. That woman, Salome." Eric said frantically. Kyrie turned her gaze to her progeny.
"Godric, let me up!" She shouted. Godric growled at her pressing her weight against her more.
"Kyrie, as your maker I release you. I take back all claims that my blood has over yours, you are no longer mine to command." He ground out. Kyrie shuddered as she felt a wave descend down her body quickly. She felt her link to Godric weaken. His presence was still there but the bond was gone. Broken, forever. She let out a whimper as he moved off of her and exited the room.
She brought her hands to her face sobbing into them. Eric was by her side in an instant helping her to sit up off the floor. He held her tightly and stroked her hair soothingly as se cried into his chest gripping his shirt tightly.
"Mama..." He whispered softly to her. She rubbed at her eyes righting herself enough to stand.
"Nora." She said quietly. Eric nodded standing as well leading her out of the room back into the main dining room. Kyrie stopped dead in her tracks in the door way. Salome, that woman, was stroking Nora's hair and holding her hand. She smiled at her and moved her hand to stroke her cheek.
Kyrie flew over to her punching the woman in the jaw sending her to the ground. "Get the hell away from my child!" She screamed standing protectively in front of Nora her fist clenched.
Salome stared up at her from the floor incredulous. Nora stood up angrily.
"Mother, what are you doing?" She demanded. Kyrie turned around quickly.
"We are leaving." She said gripping Nora's hand. Nora ripped away from her grasp shaking her head.
"No Kyrie. I am staying." Nora said simply walking around her to go to Salomes side. "The opportunities that the authority can give me are unrivaled. I will never be able to get a higher advantage anywhere else."
"Are those your words or hers?" Kyrie asked staring daggers at Salome.
"She has helped me to understand this. You told me that you wanted to give me the world, mother this is your chance. Let me go, please." Nora pleaded up at her with large brown eyes. Kyrie closed her eyes tightly. She could feel Eric's uneasy presence behind her further back in the room.
"Nora as your maker I release you. Our bond is broken. Godric may have to recite it as well for you, which I'm sure he will have no problem doing." She said. She exited the room quickly. Eric caught her by the wrist tightly digging his fingers into her flesh.
"Kyrie, how could you?" Eric shouted at her. Kyrie hung her head down her hair hanging down over her face.
"It's over Eric. We can not travel together anymore, the four of us. It's time to move on a vic." She said softly.
"I don't know what Godric said to you but Kyrie, don't..." Eric said desperately.
"Eric as your maker I release you. I relinquish my claim over you, whatever small claim that ever was." She stated her voice coming out flat. Eric threw her wrist down angrily. She knew he was seething. Even if she had actually released him or if he had just been around them for the sake of family she wasn't entirely sure. Kyrie knew it would be a long time before she would see her son again.
By the time she summed up the will power to glance up Eric was gone. Long gone. She let out a sigh walking back towards the altar room. Roman stood at it with Godric instructing him on something.
"Ah, Kyrie. The resting ground is this way." Roman stated.
"I already told you that Kyrie will not be staying here." Godric stated staring at her. "I command you out of my sight."
Before Kyrie could react she flew out the door quickly. Her feet barely touching the ground. She didn't know how far she ran into she finally stopped involuntarily. She fell to the ground somewhere in a forest, surrounded by trees in the darkness completely alone.
No Nora, with out Eric, out of Godrics sight. She fell to the forest floor and collapsed in a heap sobbing and crying.