*Hey guys, I hope you like this, it's a bit short, but it moves the story on and there is plenty to come afterwards (: reviews would make me a happy writer & make me want to write more :D*

Eight years later

I woke up hunched over my laptop, and when I sat up there was a piece of paper stuck to my face. I peevishly discarded it and stretched my muscles. Looking at my platinum Cartier watch I saw that it was only three in the morning and the last time I remembered looking at the time was just after midnight, so I hadn't been sleeping very long. I had spent almost twenty-four solid hours on this stupid project for an up and coming architect's office. He wanted a new system to separate his corporate clients from his private clients so he could charge them accordingly, and I was the lucky one who got to design the software to do so. I liked my job mostly as it kept me ridiculously busy, and my work was often different and challenging, but working for almost twenty-four hours straight did wear me out slightly. It was just as well I only needed a couple of hours sleep a day.

"Boo!" Sebastian grabbed my shoulders to surprise me, but I had heard him coming since he got in the front door a minute or so ago.

"Oh no… totally crapped my pants…"

"I know you hear like a wolf, but can you just indulge me every so often?" He joked.

"You're home early."

"No I'm home late, six hours late." As he told me I remembered, but I had so much in my head sometimes that minor details sometimes slipped from my grasp.

"Oh babe, they made you work six hours late?"

"No they only made me work one hour late, but I got a call from Greg, and you know he's the one with a mouth like…" Sebastian winked at me roguishly and I definitely got the message, rolling my eyes. "Don't give me that look; you know you're just jealous."

"I am actually."

"Honey, you need to get on that horse, it's been five years."

"Sebastian." I gave him a dirty look. He knew not to talk about that ever.

"I know you got shafted in more ways than one babe, but I really think you need to get over it."

"Please Sebastian, I don't want to talk about it." I closed my eyes, but even then I could imagine it, how it felt, and how it still made me feel. I got up from the computer, and walked past Sebastian to my room of the large apartment we shared. I was a freelance systems analyst, which paid much more than it sounds like it would. Companies paid me to design software programs, and new IT solutions for their problems, which was difficult but lucrative work. Sebastian was a trainee psychiatric nurse at Bellevue Hospital Center, which he enjoyed, but the hours were heinous. I pulled off my baggy black t-shirt and left my black shorts on. I pulled a white tight tank top on and a thin grey zip-top. I extracted my iPod from my bag and slid my feet into my white sneakers.

"Sebastian I'm going for a run."

"At this time?" He popped his head out of the living room door, unbuttoning his shirt.

"I need to clear my head."

"Sorry for that, I know you don't like to talk about it."

"It's okay, I know I need to get over it."

"You ever think maybe he has been looking for you? You did change your name."

"Sebastian, he named me Briar-Rose, and gave me the last name he uses. He found out my mom's last name, so how could he not make the connection from Briar-Rose Northman to Briar Alexander? My first name is hardly common."

"Maybe he knows where you are but he's afraid of how you'll react."

"Well he should be afraid of how I'd act if I ever saw him again." A dark look crossed my face. "I'm going out now." I turned to leave and slammed the front door. 'Godric would be lucky I didn't kill him if I ever see him again'

---

Running around Central Park was hardly the most scintillating of runs you could go on, but I just concentrated on moving my feet as fast, but not freakishly fast, as I went. If I concentrated on running I could outstrip a car going sixty miles an hour easily, so I had to concentrate on not doing it. I always thought the vampire blood would dissipate over time, but it seems to be the opposite. I have only grown stronger and faster, but unfortunately I also find myself having cravings that no amount of food or drink can quench. I know in my head what I crave, but I will stake myself in the chest before I give into it – I crave blood.

"Nice legs sugar." I heard a voice to my left and simple curiosity made me stop. I expected to see one of the many homeless people we have in New York but instead I saw a man in a casual light brown suit with a white shirt, the top button open and his dark tie loose. He had reddish brown hair and a tanned complexion which, as well as his accent, suggested he was from the south. "Don't usually get to see legs that sexy."

"Can I help you?"

"I'm sure there are several ways in which you can help me. I'd love to use your body to make me feel good… but this is business unfortunately."

"You've got about 10 seconds to become interesting." I had no idea who this man was, but I knew that whatever he was up to was not going to result in anything positive where I was concerned.

"Where is the vampire Godric?" I had been prepared for anything he was going to say but this and was unable to speak, and I was rarely, if ever, speechless. "I know by your reaction that you know him, and from our sources I'd bet you know him very well, most intimately I've heard." That was like a sucker punch.

"What on earth are you talking about?" I tried to appear cavalier, but I knew I had blown it – he knew I knew Godric.

"Where is he?"

"I haven't seen Godric in five years, what makes you think I know where he is?"

"Well according to our source you are the only thing in this world he loves. I can't blame him myself." The man's greedy eyes drank in my petite figure, resting on my breasts which were on the verge of escaping out of the top of my tank top.

"I'm fairly sure Godric loves no one, as is the same for all vampires."

"That is not what we heard at all."

"That he isn't a vampire? Then you are sadly mistaken."

"I like that sassiness, it makes a gorgeous young woman even more attractive. But you will tell me where Godric is or I'm afraid we might need to hurt you."

"You and whose army?" My eyes darted from side to side, I knew I hadn't heard anyone so it was unlikely there was anyone going to sneak up on me, but you couldn't be too careful.

"Oh I am alone, but mark my words, we know what you mean to Godric, and we know he will likely come straight to us if you were to be, let's say, coveted by our group."

"Then you're even more batshit than I thought, if you think Godric would even bat an eyelid if you "coveted" me."

"Then we shall see. I'm so sorry you weren't cooperative. I would maybe have taken you out for a drink before I… well… I don't think I need to explain myself." He gave a little smile.

"What's to stop me from killing you right now? I mean, you wouldn't go back and they wouldn't know what I said or did."

"Aside from the fact there are thousands of members of our group in this country alone, and I will just be replaced by many more, I do not think you are a killer."

"I could kill out of necessity."

"Then by all means, kill me." He held his arms out and I hesitated. "That's what I thought." He turned and walked away into the dark alley opposite Central Park. I stood breathing heavily for nearly a minute before I mentally shook myself. There were so many questions. Why were these people looking for Godric? How did they know who I was or that I was even connected to Godric? And who was this source they were talking about? If Godric was not at his home in Texas then I did not know how to contact him… not that I particularly wanted to. I rubbed my face with both hands as I tried to rub away the images of that fateful night. It changed everything… ruined everything. Oh FUCK Godric… I didn't care about him anymore… I would not care about him anymore… I just couldn't.