A/N: Thank you everyone for all of the reviews, favs, and follows. Not bad for a story that I thought would bomb.
Kyrie sat in the metal tub allowing Eric to scrub the dirt out of her hair. She had her eyes closed enjoying the warmth of the water she sat in as well as the heat coming from the fire that crackled in the fire place.
"Kyrie, how long were you in ground for?" Eric asked in his soft way. Kyrie gave a small shrug not really caring how much time had passed.
"Why do you ask?" She answered back. Eric dunked the small bucket into the water dousing her head rising some of the grime away.
"I ask because you are disgusting." He said his tone edgier than before, more authoritative. Kyrie opened her eyes taking in the black water that had more than just a few dead insects floating in it.
"I suppose you are right a vic." She stated. "Seeing as how there was no way to tell how much time passed while I was in ground I have no idea."
"It's been nearly two centuries since I last saw you and from your appearance you have spent most of that time in ground." Eric said in a matter of fact tone.
Kyrie turned her head slightly to stare at her progeny. "Two hundred years?" She whispered astounded by his revelation.
"One hundred and ninety eight if you wish to be technical." Eric replied. Silence ensued as they sat, Kyrie in the wash basin and Eric now scrubbing her skin with a wash rag.
"There is sorry I am a vic." She said softly in her own language unable to translate any other tongue at that moment.
"Why are you apologizing? You have done nothing wrong." He stated in English, he seemed to have picked up an affinity for it although his accent was off considerably.
"I should never have sent you away." She replied.
"I survived, you taught me well." He said. Kyrie let out a soft sigh with a bit of a laugh laced into it albeit sarcastic, it was still noticeable.
"No Eric, Godric taught you...everything." Kyrie said. She felt her heart sink low as she realized how much time had passed above her. In her attempt to bury herself away from the world time has gone on with out her.
"Stand, you are about as clean as you're going to be for now." Eric said. Kyrie gripped the edge of the tub to steady herself. Eric grasped her from behind to aid her. "You are so weak. Once you are settled I will find you something to eat."
Eric helped her step out of the tub leading her over closer towards the fire. He sat her down and placed one of his night shirts over her head pulling it down. She was practically swimming in the material.
Kyrie smirked as Eric smiled at her laughing. "You look ridiculous." He said. She was warm, enveloped by her progenys scent. He was sitting in front of her running his hands through her hair.
Weakly she placed her hands to either side of his face feeling relaxed and calm for the first time in centuries. Eric edged closer to her taking her chin with his thumb to lift her head slightly. Her lips parted with the gesture somewhat.
Eric smirked at her as he placed his lips against hers lightly. It was comforting to have him close to her again. She felt his body relax considerably as if he had been tense, she supposed her wretched state had been the cause.
Eric broke away from her resting his forehead to hers. "I was beyond hurt when you callously released me." He said. Kyrie closed her eyes as his words stung her heart. "It was obvious to me why you did, Godric should have gone about releasing you better. Even still, I would have stayed with you."
Kyrie placed a few soft kisses to his lips and chin. Her voice caught in her throat. Eric only shook his head a couple of times. "It was a difficult time for all of us. You did what you felt was right just as Godric did. In the end it was for the better." He said.
Kyrie opened her eyes inadvertently allowing a rivulet of crimson to leak down her cheeks. "You've suffered because of that decision and I am so sorry mama." He continued wiping away her bloody tears.
"Eric, I was lost but I found purpose. It was for a short time however it was there. That was taken from me by my own doing, centuries earlier." She whispered. "I gave up and went to ground where I belong."
The sadness began to creep back into her bones. That overwhelming guilt that had brewed inside of her mind nearly sending her into madness, was resurfacing.
"Where you belong is by my side." Eric said. With that Kyrie fell forward despite her efforts to stay somewhat upright. Eric wrapped her arms around her lifting her up as he stood.
He placed her onto the sofa placing a soft blanket over her. He walked out of her line of sight reappearing quickly with a wine glass in hand. He helped her to sit up and held the glass to her lips.
Kyrie drank it down in a few gulps. Eric poured her more sitting beside her to support her sagging frame.
"Once you are strong enough we can go hunting together." He said with a smile. Kyrie nodded on agreement. "Kyrie there is something I must tell you. For the past one hundred years or so I have been charged with over looking a territory."
"By the vampire authority?" She asked. Eric gave a short nod.
"They tracked me down and offered me a position. It has had its benefits." Eric stated somewhat aloof. "I am being sent to North America, the United States."
"Where Godric was sent to, yeah?" Kyrie questioned staring straight ahead.
"Yes. Godric has been there long enough to establish a place for our kind. He has his own territory in the southern part of the country:" Eric said.
"Is that where you are going, then? To be with Godric." She said. Eric put the wine glass down on the floor and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
He pulled her closer to him resting his head against the top of hers. Kyrie gripped his wrist tightly.
"No doubt I will have dealings with Godric, it would be good to see him again however I will be in a different part of the country." He said. "My territory will be in the upper west of the country, for the time being."
"That will be nice for you then, yeah." She said quietly.
"You are coming with me." He said bluntly. Kyrie stirred slightly but nothing more.
"Eric, I..." She began.
"It is not an option. I will not leave you again." He whispered huskily into her hair. His arm tightened around her.
"Godric banned me from his side. He ordered me out of his sight." She interjected quickly. Her body tensed as she felt the pain of her makers rejection sink back into her.
"He did that? He actually commanded it of you?" Eric asked stunned. Kyrie gave a nod. "Well then, we don't have to see him right away."
Kyrie could hear the weight in her progenys voice, it pained him. Eric cared for both her and Godric, he was committed to both of them and the fact that they were not going to see each other apparently any time soon hurt him.
"When are you set to leave?" Kyrie asked. The idea to leave the old world for the new was having an appeal to her.
"With in the month. I will delay it however to make sure you are well enough to make the journey." Eric replied.
"You really are not giving me any choice, are you a vic." Kyrie said.
"I will make you go by force. The condition you are in, you would hardly have a say in the matter." He said.
"Well then, I suppose I need to get some strength back before we travel."