When I appear in the silver cell I am overcome with emotion. I can see the inner struggle this willful vampire holds inside. The pain and agony should have long ago driven him mad but he holds himself apart from this place and the torture the FOTS have inflicted. It hurts me that I must bring him back from the relief he has fought so hard to maintain. I need him to be in his own mind when I release him and teleport him back to his nest. I decide straddling him is the safest way, then I have the drop on him should he decide to act up.

I move slowly up his body, removing restraints as I go. I can feel his agony as the silver restraints pull flesh and tissue with them as I remove them; I can only hum an old healing hymn as I work and I pray it brings him some comfort. By the time I get to the last one across his chest I am crying. The cruelty is just awful and my heart stirs with the tingly beginnings of unprecedented feelings. I caress him, pull myself closer to him, and speak gently to him. Life sparks in his gorgeous grey eyes and I can almost feel him returning to himself; I pop quickly.

F&^k! He's got me. I have been so careful, I never thought it would end…..but this isn't the end. He won't kill me. I feel certain this is just the beginning. Darkness takes me.

Hours later, in the silence of a dark room, I am startled awake. There is a vampire at my breast. There is a sweet taste in my mouth, delicious but I cannot place it. In fact how did I come to be here? Why am I still here? Frac! I need to go.

Oh, sweet Sookie, I can't allow you to go. You are an angel and I intend to keep you. I have faith no god would be as cruel as to put you in my life and then take you away. I have searched many lifetimes to find you and in my near final death, you come to me.

My, he has a way with words. How is it I want to kiss him instead of pop right out of here?

It might be the blood I gave you and the bond we have started.

"You have saved me my angel. Now I am yours as you are mine. I shall spend eternity earning this gift. The bonding has begun but there is much more than blood between us, I know you feel it too. There is much to deal with this night." Godric sits up, still touching me and speaks softly. I panic for a moment that means I 'heard' the stuff he said before, and he heard me. His thoughts entered my mind once again. That is the way with bonded mates, angel, now come. "Please accompany me. I do not want to be separated from you. We can discuss whatever you wish after business has been attended to." Godric speaks aloud and holds his hand out to me. I look to Eric for reassurance but he is as gobsmacked as I am. I put my hand in his. He raised my hand and kissed it sending warmth tingling up my arm. "Come, then angel, we must get ready."

I cannot help but follow him. I am drawn to him, it is magnetic. He leads me to the bathroom. I am nervous, I've never had feelings like this before and I've certainly never bathed with a man before.

Shh. Calm yourself, my angel, I will not take your innocence. We shall only clean ourselves and dress.

I have never done this!

You are scared?

Actually, more worried that I am not scared.

It is further proof that you are mine.

Hhhm. When he says that I feel all tingly but when Compton says it I feel creeped out.

Who is this Compton, your mind turned dark and fearful when you thought of him and why would he call you 'his'?

I am surprised he saw that but I do not question that now. I show Godric my encounters with the strange vampire. I somehow expected an adverse response. He growled deep in his chest and pulled me closer. He shouted in my mind; MINE!

His possessiveness was not unwelcome. I felt oddly aroused at his display of dominance. Yum! I want him. He must have felt or sensed my arousal because his hands began doing amazing things. It took a little longer than necessary to get ready but we managed to stumble out of the bathroom well put together and much more knowledgeable about each others bodies.

There are approximately100 vampires in attendance. The vampires part like the Red Sea for Moses when we enter the room. As Godric seats us in a large comfortable chair at the front of the room, many vampires kneel in respect. If respect did not bring them to their knees then Godric's power did. I could feel it like a warm blanket around me but it did not press down on or weaken me.

It is easy to understand how so many respect him and how he has managed to live so long. He is very intelligent, commanding, and concise. I lull into my thoughts and try to understand what has occurred between him and me. The meeting ends and Eric approaches but as he kneels down in front of us I see something over his shoulder. I turn away and nuzzle into Godric's neck. William Compton. How? How does he find me? I don't want to leave Godric but….

You are mine. You will be going no where. Say yes. Say you want to be mine.

I do. "It's him!" I squeak out for Eric's benefit.

Then drink, sweet Sookie. And as I do, without hesitation, everything else falls away.