Kyrie sat in her room, as she had been for the past two weeks. As each day passed she felt less inclined to leave the space where she didn't have to worry about the outside world. In a way she felt as if she had buried herself again, she was alone and left to her thoughts. After Lorena's departure she hadn't heard much from anyone. There had been muffled voices in the hallway leading into the living room but other than that there wasn't anything. She figured that whatever plan had been enacted had already taken flight. She couldn't help but wonder what Lorena had had planned or if Eric had in fact assisted her but had no inclination to find out on her own what the outcome had been, if anything had even happened.
She stared blankly at the book that lay open on her lap. Her eyes moved across the page but her mind wouldn't register what was printed. Lazily she flipped the book closed and stood up to walk across the room to the balcony that was attached. Halfheartedly she opened the French doors and walked out into the warm night air. Crickets chirped and frogs croaked somewhere off in the distance. She closed her eyes to take a deep breath of air when she heard the crunch of car tires on the gravel of the drive way.
She made her way closer to the bannister leaning over to see past the bushes to where the front of the house was. Five cars that she could count but from what she could tell more were coming down the street as they slowed near the house. Kyrie took a step back feeling herself shake slightly. She knew that it meant one of two things, Godric had either met the true death and she now had 'guests' to pay their respects or he was with them. She wasn't sure which scenario made her more nervous.
Quickly she went back into her room and shut the doors locking them behind her. She turned to face the bedroom door sensing vampires and humans alike. They came in loud and boisterous but soon quieted down. Music began playing on the sound system in the living room. It sounded like a party. Godric was with them. She pressed herself further against the doors realizing she was still holding onto the handles tightly.
A knock on the door made her jump. It had been soft and barely even made a sound. The knob for the door made some noise as someone jiggled it from the other side. Kyrie stared at the door not wanting to open it. She didn't want to let anyone in. She just wanted to be left alone. Why couldn't people understand that? Why did others consistently try to lure her out into a world she didn't want any part in?
"Kyrie. Please open the door." Godric's voice was muffled by the barrier in front of him.
"Godric." Kyrie said softly more to herself.
"Yes Kyrie. I am home." He stated. Kyrie felt herself sigh before releasing her hold on the door. She walked across the room passing a hand against the bed slightly feeling the softness of the fabric that was her comforter. It gave her a small moment to get her bearings as she stopped in front of the door. Slowly she reached out and unlocked the door. She turned her back to the door before Godric opened it. Quickly she sat on the bed to stare at the wall ahead of her as she heard the door close.
She felt Godric sit next to her and heard him sigh. Kyrie lowered her head slightly to stare at the carpet. Godric made no move and it was as if he wasn't there. Just as it had been the last year or so. Godric, at least how he had been, was gone and she was left with a person she didn't know. A person who wouldn't let her in. She gripped her hands into fists tightly feeling her anger come forward. Her eyes narrowed as she prepared herself to give Godric a good tongue lashing.
"I am sorry Kyrie for making you worry." Godric said. "I know that it hasn't been easy for you. It hasn't been easy on any of us. These last few years have been exceptionally hard as we are all forced to adapt to coexisting with the humans in way that we never have before."
"Save me the speech Godric and repeat it to Nan." Kyrie stated closing her eyes.
"You are right. There is no excuse for how I have been." He replied. Kyrie opened her eyes whipping her head in his direction. Her mouth dropped as her anger left her. She was stunned as she took in her maker. He was facing her. His mouth was drawn down as it had been as of late but he was crying. His tears left red sticky trails down his face as they fell against the white tunic like shirt he was wearing. She watched as they spread against the fabric seeming to bloom almost into bloody flowers.
"Godric?" She asked reached out a hand to her maker. She laid it against his cheek which he leaned into slightly closing his eyes.
"I am tired my Kyrie. I am so very tired." He stated hoarsely. In his voice she heard the centuries he had lived before her, with her and without her. The weight of time was heavy on his shoulders and the stress of eternity had become a burden. She knew that feeling and it was all thanks to the vampire sitting next to her.
"Oh my Godric." She said softly moving closer to her maker. Kyrie wrapped her arms around his shoulders guiding his head down to rest against her chest. She buried her face in his hair as she wrapped his arms around her middle using her as a support. She could feel him sobbing but he made no sound.
Neither spoke as time passed, as it always did for them, in the room. The small brass clock on Kyrie's dressing table ticked away the seconds as they held onto each other just as they had for so long. Longer than what should have ever been possible. Simultaneously they disentangled from one another to stare at the other.
"I was going to meet the sun. It was what I wanted." He said swallowing hard.
"Is it still what you want?" Kyrie asked curiously.
"Yes." He replied in a whisper.
"Then I have one request of you Godric." She stated taking his hands in both of hers. He stared at her with his boyish features holding a childlike expectancy to what she was about to say. "When you do decide to go please say good-bye."
"I tried. Oh my Kyrie, I tried so hard to tell you what I was going to do but I couldn't…I just…I couldn't." He said.
"Were you afraid that I would stop you?" She asked.
"Some of it was that, yes, but mostly I didn't know how. It was easier for me to just leave." He stated.
"I can understand that." Kyrie replied.
"You didn't deserve that though. I shouldn't have left you in such a state of unknowing. I will make certain to let you know when I am going to meet the true death. It's the least I can do for everything that you have done for me." Godric said sounding more like himself.
"Oh? What exactly have I done for you?" Kyrie asked slightly amused.
"You have loved me, given me a family. Those were things that I thought were lost to me when I was turned. I never expected to find anyone like you." He said.
"Why did you turn me Godric? What was it that you saw in me?" She questioned. It wasn't the first time it had crossed her mind.
"You were brave Kyrie. I very nearly killed you and yet you struggled to live. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. For that I knew I couldn't let you die. It would have been waste to let you go." He stated. "A decision I have never regretted."
"I found out some time ago that I killed my clan, the night that I awoke as a vampire. Did you know that I did that?" Kyrie felt the question fall off her tongue.
"I didn't know the extent to which you had attacked them but I did know that you had." Godric replied. Kyrie glanced at the ceiling for a moment before standing. She pulled on Godric to have him stand up. He complied and allowed her to lead him into the bathroom.
Kyrie turned on the water in the shower before taking off Godrics shirt and tossing it on the floor. She grabbed a wash cloth from the side of the sink placing it in his hand. "You are a mess boy. Go clean yourself up. Our company is waiting." She stated making move to leave the room.
"You should as well Kyrie. I have made a mess of you as well." He stated grabbing onto her hand.
"Should I?" She asked smirking slightly. Godric returned it and nodded his head once. He pulled her closer to him pressing his lips gently against hers. He pulled the tank top she was wearing over her head. Kyrie wrapped her arms around his shoulders pressing herself closer to him. Godric took down the denim shorts she was wearing leaving a trail of kisses down her neck and torso.
Kyrie undid his belt allowing the khakis he wore to fall to the floor. Godric wrapped his arms around her middle grabbing her hips. She held on to him tightly as he lifted her off the ground and walked into the shower still kissing at her lips. He laid her on the shower floor with enough room for them to stretch out. The warm water hit their cold flesh as the tiles soaked up its heat around them.
Godric held onto her as Kyrie wrapped her legs around his hips allowing him entrance into her. She arched her back as he pushed himself into her. He let out a soft moan as he began to set a steady pace. Kyrie gasped as she felt the pleasure rip through her body. She couldn't remember a time when it had been so fast for her. Godric didn't last any longer than she had being overcome himself soon after.
It had been quick but satisfying and without a word being spoken both knew that it would be the last time they would be intimate. They laid on the tile of the shower floor for some time allowing the water to splash over them and take off some the blood that Godrics tears had left.
Godric sat in his chair in the living room as Kyrie sat beside him. She held onto his hand as vampires and humans came up steadily to pay their respects to them. Stan was next. He held an air of slight irritation. Kyrie glanced slightly at Godric as he remained stoic staring at his underling.
"Welcome home Sherriff. We are all..very relieved." He said simply. Insincerity was thick in his tone. Godric merely blinked and gave a slight nod of acknowledgement as Stan seemed to stand awkwardly in front of them for a moment before milling off. Kyrie brought her full attention to Godric but his gaze remained focused forward to the line of guests.
"I just wanted to say I'm real sorry for what the fellowship put you through." Kyrie took her eyes off of Godric to look up at the human man that had stopped in front of them. He was blonde and tanned with a southern drawl but not a Texan. If she had to guess it would be maybe Alabama or Louisiana. He glanced from Godric to Kyrie taking in their blank expressions and gave a small nod before turning to leave his place in line.
"You helped save many lives today Mr. Stackhouse. Please know that you have friends whenever you visit this area." Godric interjected catching the young man's attention. He gave a small smirk.
"Thanks man but I uh, don't know if I ever want to come back anytime soon." He stated good naturedly. He mouthed what seemed like a small apology before walking off. More people milled past them with short nods and words of relief.
There were shouts and noise indicating a struggle. A path was cleared as Isabella dragged in the human man she had been in a relationship with for a few months. Kyrie couldn't help but feel sorry for the underling. She had always been kind to her and had looked out for her. Her human companion looked worse for wear sporting bruises on his face as if he had been punched. Isabella looked absolutely miserable.
"He's your human is he not?" Godric asked. The room had become silent as the music was shut off. All Kyrie could hear was the breathing of the humans in attendance.
"Yes he is." Isabella replied.
"Do you love him?" Godric questioned squeezing Kyrie's hand tightly for a moment. Isabella contemplated the question for a few moments.
"I…I thought I did." She managed out. Her voice sounded strangled in her throat as she spoke. Isabella glanced down at the man that kneeled on the floor in front of them. She looked away with a pained expression gracing her features. She appeared to be on the verge of tears.
"It appears you love him still." Godric stated. Isabella looked ashamed shaking her head as if in disbelief over her own emotions.
"I do. I'm sorry." She replied. "But you are my Sherriff. I will do as you please."
"You're free to go." Godric said glancing down at the human. The man brought his gaze up to Godric curiously as if wondering what the catch was.
"What?" Stan came forward with venom in his voice.
"He's free to go." Godric reiterated glancing up at Stan silencing him before bringing his eyes back down to the human. "And do not return. I fear it's not safe for you here."
"This is a travesty." Stan stated.
"It is my verdict." Godric replied to end the discussion. "Eric! Escort them out. Make sure that he leaves unharmed."
"Yes Godric." Eric said. He walked over taking the man by the collar of his shirt lifting him off of the floor with one arm to escort him out.
"Thank you Sherriff. Thank you." Isabella said gratitude in her voice. Kyrie shook her head slightly feeling sorry for the poor female in all she had been through with in the course of three minutes. The crowd began to talk in quiet whispers again and shuffle around the rooms as the confrontation appeared to be over.
"That was nice of you." Kyrie stated.
"It was simply the right thing to do." Godric said. Eric walked in the room and took a seat next to his makers.
"The human has been dispatched." Eric said. "I told him not to stop until he reaches the Mexican border. I've arranged for an A B negative human for you. Extremely rare."
"Thank you. I'm not hungry." Godric replied his gaze turned down away from Eric's face.
"You have to feed eventually." Eric chided. "I doubt the fellowship had anything to offer." His face broke out into a sly smirk before straightening back out. Godric didn't smirk back or even move. He remained stoic. "Why wouldn't you leave when I first came for you?"
"They didn't treat me badly." Godric replied. "You'd be shocked at how ordinary most of them are."
"They do nothing but fan the flames of hatred for us." Eric stated. Godric turned his head towards their progeny.
"Let's be honest; we are frightening." He said. "After thousands of years we haven't evolved. We've only grown more brutal, more predatory. I don't see the danger in treating humans as equals. The fellowship of the sun arose because we never did so."
"Is that why you wouldn't fight when they took you?" Eric questioned. Kyrie stared straight ahead taking comfort in the fires light. She clutched onto Godrics hand as if it were a life line. She swallowed hard hoping her wouldn't answer the question. She had a feeling she knew what the answer was but didn't want to hear him say it all the same. All she wanted to do was cover her ears and scream the same way she had the night he released her.
"I could have killed every last one of them within minutes. What would that have proven?" Godric asked. Eric brought his eyes down as if contemplating what his maker had just said. Kyrie let out a small sigh. It wasn't quite an answer but it was better than what she had been anticipating.
Shouting from the other room caught their attention as a woman screamed. In a shot Godric was in the other room. Kyrie was quickly behind him standing in the doorway. He held Lorena by the throat. The blonde woman that was William's human companion was on the table grabbing at her throat somewhat.
"Retract your fangs…now." Godric commanded slowly. Lorena complied eyeing him closely. "Do you understand?"
"Yes Sherriff." Lorena stuttered out clearly. Slowly Godric released his grip from her throat allowing her to ease herself into a sitting position.
"This human has proven herself to be a courageous and loyal friend to our kind and yet you treat her like a child does a dragonfly, pulling off wings for sport." Godric admonished. "No wonder they hate us."
"She provoked me." Lorena said her anger coming out clearly in her tone.
"And you provoke me. You've disrupted the peace in my own home. I could snap you like a twig and I haven't. Now why is that?" He asked. It was a tone Kyrie had heard before, he was trying to teach Lorena a lesson.
"It's your choice." She replied.
"Indeed it is." He said. "You're an old vampire, I can tell. You've had hundreds of years to better yourself yet you haven't. You're still a savage and I fear for all of us, humans and vampires, if this behavior persists. You. You seem to know her." He asked William.
"Yes Sherriff." He replied with a short nod of his head.
"Escort her from the nest." He commanded.
"Go ahead." The human woman said with a nod of her head.
"I wish you out of my area before dawn." Godric stated. Kyrie watched as Lorena followed William, her progeny, out of the door.
Slowly Godric walked back over to Kyrie. He was his calm, composed self but there was something more that she hadn't seen in a long time. There seemed to be a small spark back in his eyes. She offered her maker a small smile as he took her hand back in his.
"This has certainly turned out to be an eventful homecoming for you, yeah?" Kyrie said leaning against the door frame.
"Yes. You have noticed that have you?" He said good naturedly. Kyrie gave a small shrug of her shoulders.
"Excuse me everyone!" A mans voice came from the living room. Godric and Kyrie both glanced over following close behind Isabella. "If I could have your attention. My name is Link McDonald. I'm a member of the fellowship of the sun and I have a message for you all from Reverend Steve Newland." The human unzipped his jacket revealing the explosive that was strapped to him. Godric wrapped his arms around Kyrie shielding her as the world around them exploded.