8

I had no complaints about my stay at Godric's so far-well,except maybe about Stan-, Godric and Isabel were both very nice to me, and during the day when they weren't there, I had Hugo to hang out with. Also, my job at the cafe kept me quite busy.

So no complaints.

So far.

I was in my room, listening to a song of the Spice Gi-I mean, er, crap; what's a cool band nowadays?

Ahem.

I heard a soft knock at my door and looked up to find Isabel standing just outside my room. I pulled my earphones out of my ears and smiled at her as I continued folding my laundry. "Hey, come in."

I immediately noticed that there was something different about her, though I couldn't tell exactly what at first. "What's up?"

She hadn't spoken yet, instead she sat down on the edge of my bed, her eyes not yet meeting mine. At this point, I had stopped folding my clothes and pushed the laundry basket aside to make room to sit down next to her. "Isabel?"

"Hollie, you know how Godric left last night for some...Sheriff business?" She began.

"Yeah," I nodded, "He's suppose to come back tonight, right?" I asked her, and my eyes suddenly widened. "Why, did something happen? Is he alright?"

"Yes, yes," She quickly cut me off, "He is fine, I assume he will arrive shortly."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, well then what's the problem?" I asked her curiously, "Did you have another fight with Hugo?"

She turned to look at me, her face looking both surprised and confused. "You know about that?"

Oh crap. Maybe I wasn't suppose to know.

"Er, not really," I cleared my throat, "So what's going on?'

She gave me a strange look for a moment before the sadness returned to her eyes. "Last night, Godric went to confirm some news. It appears that...Do you remember how your father found a clue as to where to find Joseph?"

I nodded.

"It... It wasn't a real clue," She continued.

I titled my head to the side in confusion. "It wasn't real?" I repeated, "So he's back to where he started?"

I knew that my dad had been glad when he had believed to have found Joseph's hiding spot, because he wanted to get all of this over with and put the past behind him. It must have frustrated him to no end that it was a false lead.

"Oh, Hollie," She sighed, and I noticed a bloody tear trail down her face as she took my hands in hers. "The clue...it led your father to a trap."

My face immediately fell, and it felt like my entire body went ice cold. "W-What do you mean?" I tried to force a smile, but it was shaky, "H-He's alright though, right?"

Another bloody tear escaped her eye as she shook her head.

I immediately pulled my hands away from hers, and suddenly stood up, walking away from the bed. "He's not alright? Is he wounded or...?" I spun around to look at her. I knew what she was going to say, but a part of me was not willing to lose hope.

"He didn't make it."

I took a step backwards at her words, shaking my head in disbelief as my vision began to get blurry by my tears. "No," I whispered, "He said...You all said he was going to be fine. That he was much stronger than Joseph...That..."

"We didn't know what Joseph had-,"

"Stop!' I shouted, cutting her off as my hands went to cover my ears, "I don't want to hear it!"

As the tears continued to pour down my face, I felt as though a cold hand had reached into my chest and grabbed my heart, and was now squeezing it mercilessly.

"I-I can't breathe."

All the energy had left my body. In a matter of seconds I felt completely drained. I fell to my knees, my breathing coming out in sharp, short breaths. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening. How could he be gone? I was with him not too long ago; and now he was just gone?

"Hollie," Isabel whispered softly, as she placed a comforting hand on my back.

I shook my head, still barely able to breathe as my tears stained the carpet underneath me. I felt like my entire body was going to burst from the pain; I couldn't take it. I wanted it to stop. I wanted to get it out.

So I screamed.

3:oo AM.

That's what the digital clock on my night table told me in bright, flashy numbers. I hadn't been able to fall asleep, I just continued staring at the clock. It had been a few hours since I received the news. My father was gone, no longer here, but time and the rest of the world still moved on.

The thought made more tears come to my eyes as I clutched my pillow, and a quiet sob escaped my lips. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, hoping that when I opened my eyes I would be in my own room, and this entire thing would be a nightmare.

But when I opened them, I was met with the same clock.

3:01 AM.

I could hear the door to my room open quietly, and suddenly Godric was standing over my bed. I knew it was him, though I didn't bother to look up to meet his gaze. I simply continued staring at the clock.

"Hollie," He began quietly, "I am very sorry for your loss."

Normally, I wouldn't want anyone to see me likes this; with my puffy, red eyes and my tear-stained face, but now I simply didn't care. My father wasn't here anymore; and nothing else seemed to matter.

"You said," I whispered, "That he would be alright."

I squeezed my eyes shut again, and burried my face into my pillow. He didn't say anything in response, he just stood there quietly.

"Please, I just want to be alone."

And though I didn't look up, I knew exactly when he left.

"Hollie, you haven't touched your ice cream."

It had been a week since I had received the news about my father, and during that time I had done absolutely nothing. I would wake up, force myself to eat something, then go back to bed, and then if I felt like eating lunch or supper, I'd get out of bed again to eat something small, and then go straight back to bed. Most of the time I would skip supper.

I hadn't seen Godric or Isabel during the week, seeing as I locked myself in my bedroom. Hugo would check on me once during the day, and usually after I muttered a 'I feel fine', he would leave me alone. He had given up on trying to get me to leave the house.

I had also called work, and told Anne that I was sick; so she gave me the week off. Today was my first day back to work, and as I was going to take the bus back home, I had unfortunately ran into Adam and Gwen. And now, here I was, in a small ice cream shop with them.

"Hollie?" Gwen repeated, "It's going to melt."

I glanced down at my ice cream. "I don't really want any."

"What?" Adam gave me a shocked look, "But...You love cookie dough ice cream!"

I shrugged my shoulders but didn't say anything. Gwen and Adam exchanged a worried look before Gwen reached forward, placing a comforting hand over my own. "Hollie, sweetie, is everything alright?"

Obviously, I hadn't told them about the death of my father. Why? Because my father was a vampire, and they didn't know that. So, it would be hard to explain his death. I also didn't want their pity.

"I'm fine," I told them, "I'm just tired,"

"It's more than that," Gwen continued, "Come on, you can tell me what's going on; I'm your best friend."

"Ahem," Adam cleared his throat.

"Fine," Gwen rolled her eyes, "We're your best friends."

I forced a smile that anyone who knew me, would immediately know that it was fake. It was one of those scary, wide, show all of your teeth smile. "Guys, seriously, I'm fine."

"Then why are you smiling like the Joker from Batman?" Adam asked and Gwen nudged him in the ribs, "Ow!"

I glanced down at my cell phone to check the time. It was going to get dark soon, and I knew I had to get home before the sun set. "I have to go," I announced as I stood up.

"What? Why?" Gwen frowned, "We barely got here an hour ago, and I haven't seen you in such a long time!"

"I know, I'm sorry," I said, "But I have to get home before the sun sets."

"Say who?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow.

Crap. "I just, I'm tired and I want to go home to sleep," I said simply, "I'll see you guys later."

I didn't really gave them a chance to reply as I walked away and exited the shop. I had only taken a few steps when I heard Gwen call my name and I resisted the urge to groan; she just had to follow me, didn't she?

"What is it?" I asked as I came to a stop.

"I want to talk to you," She said as I turned around to face her, "I want you to tell me what's going on."

"There's nothing going on," I told her, my face blank.

"Don't lie!" She glared at me, "Come on, tell me!"

"Why?" I snapped, "Why should I tell you?"

She blinked, surprised at my tone. "Because I'm your friend!" She reminded me, irritated.

"So what? Because you're my friend, I automatically have to tell you everything?" I glared back at her with the same intensity, "I don't have to tell you everything, Gwen."

"But I can help you!"

"No you can't!" I half-shouted, "Trust me, no one can help me with this!"

"How do you know? You won't even let anyone try!"

"GWEN!" I sighed loudly in frustration, "Just shut up! I don't want to tell you, and I won't tell you. So just mind your own business and leave me the hell alone!"

With that, I spun around and stormed off, ignoring the angry 'Fine!' she shouted after me.

When I got home, I knew that the sun was going to set soon, and that therefore Godric and Isabel (and Stan) would be up shortly. So, I made my way directly into my room, resisting the urge to slam the door loudly behind me so I didn't wake up the others too early.

"Stupid Gwen," I muttered under my breath.

I made my way into the bathroom, deciding that I would to take a bubble bath to calm me down.

Normally, when I took a bath, I would take a book with me, but I didn't feel like reading tonight. I just wanted to stay in the tub, until the water became cold and my skin became all pruny.

I sighed as I leaned my head back. I was such a terrible person; Gwen was only trying to help me, and I was so mean to her. I pressed my lips together as I felt tears make their way to my eyes, nothing new as I had been crying all week. I was such a terrible person.

I was a terrible person because I was shutting out everyone in my life who was trying to help me, and hurting them in the process.

I sunk lower into the tub, the water now reaching just below my lips.

I was a terrible person because I allowed my father to go fight for me, and it cost him his life. I should have stopped him, I should have made him stay; but I didn't. I let him go too easily; I didn't even try to convince him not to go. What kind of daughter was I, that I so easily let my father walk to his death?

I was a terrible person because, on the night of my mother's murder, I was the one who forced my dad to take me out. If I hadn't made him take me out, he would have been at home, and he would have protected my mom. But I made him leave her, alone and unprotected.

I hadn't even realized that, with every negative thought, I had sunk a litte lower until I was completely underwater. I stayed there, holding my breath, feeling a large wave of guilt and sadness take over me as I realized that I was responsible for the deaths of the two most important people in my life.

And now, I was left with Godric and Isabel. They were stuck with me, and they were probably too nice to kick me out. What if something happened to them because of me too?

How long have I been under water? Maybe I should go up to breathe...

Or maybe I should just stay here. It's more peaceful. The world will go on just fine without me...

My eyes were beginning to close as I felt the energy leave my body, when two hands suddenly, and tightly, grabbed my upper arms and pulled me out of the water.

I immediately began gasping for air, not realizing how much I had been missing it. I blinked my eyes open, confused and dazed as I continued taking in deep breaths.

"What were you doing?"

I looked up to meet Godric's angry looking eyes, his hands still gripping my upper arms tightly, and I knew it was going to leave a bruise. "W-What are you doing here?" I asked as I sunk my body back into the tub, wanting to cover myself.

He had released his hold on me by now. "Get out of the tub, now," He ordered stricly before leaving and slamming the door behind him.

It took me a few seconds before I snapped out of it, and I quickly got out of the tub, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around me. I thought I would get the chance to change before I met him downstairs-and probably get scolded-but I went in my room to find him sitting down on my bed, fingers laced together in his lap and his eyes narrowed at the ground.

So, I stood there awkwardly, wearing nothing but a towel. This was the first time I was seeing him in a week; and I had a feeling it wasn't going to be a pleasant reunion.

"What were you doing?" He asked me again, his voice quiet but hard, never lifting his gaze.

"I..." I cleared my throat, "I was taking a bath."

This time, his eyes shot up to meet my own. "You were attempting to drown yourself," He corrected, eyes narrowed.

I clutched my towel. "That's ridiculous," I muttered as I made my way towards my closet, "I was going to come back up," I told him.

"You forget that I can feel your emotions," He reminded me, "I felt you becoming weaker, I felt you...give up."

"I wasn't trying to kill myself!" I snapped at him, "Now could you please leave so I can change? I'm getting kind of cold."

"You can change in the closet, I'll wait."

I glared at him as I walked into the walk-in closet, closing the door behind me. Luckily, I had everything in here. So I, rather slowly, put on some underwear and my pyjamas before I came back out; unforunately, Godric was still there.

"Great, you're still here," I mumbled as I grabbed my brush and began brushing my hair.

I was being rude, I know. I was hoping that it would make him leave. I was shutting him out, like I was shutting everyone else out. I realized my mistakes as I was making them; but I couldn't stop.

"Are you ready to talk?" He asked.

I shrugged my shoulers. "I don't really have anything to say," I told him, "But I have a feeling that I'm about to get a tongue-lashing from you."

He didn't say anything, but was suddenly standing in front of me. His eyes weren't angry anymore, instead they held a hint of sadness. "Why would you do that?" He asked softly.

Why would I try to kill myself; why had I given up? Because he was right, I hadn't realized it, but while I was underwater, without even realizing it, I made a decision to not go back up. I gave up.

"It just seemed...easier," I confessed with a sigh, all the anger suddenly leaving me as I sat down on my bed, "This whole week, all I've done is cry and...I just wanted the pain to stop. I was underwater and I thought...Why go back up? What's there to go back up to?"

He frowned as he sat down next to me. "Your life is incredibly valuable," He told me, "You must never think otherwise."

"You don't get it!" I exclaimed, "They both died because of me; my mom and my dad. If it weren't for me, they'd both be alive, and no one can say otherwise because its the truth!"

He continued frowning, and I knew he disagreed but I continued before he could speak.

"And then, as if I'm not bad enough, I go around and be mean to everyone who tries to help me, like you and the rest of my friends. Gwen...All she tried to do was help and I was horrible to her!"

"I'm sure your friend will understand," Godric said warmly.

"I wouldn't blame her if she didnt," I wiped a tear away, "I just...I wanted to pick a fight because I thought I'd rather be angry, because I'd rather be distracted by the anger than have to feel the pain and sadness of remembering my father's death."

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I started down at my hands, which were lying on my lap. "And Joseph is still out there," I continued, my voice hardening as I mentioned the man who was responsible for my father's death, "Which means he's still after me-."

"We will keep you safe," Godric interrupted me, assuming that it was my own safety I was worried about.

"I'm not worried about me," I told him with a sigh, "I'm worried...well, about you and Isabel."

I realized that it was stupid to worry about a two-thousand-year-old vampire and...how old was Isabel? Well, whatever. While Godric's expression didn't change much, I did detect the confusion and curiousity behind his eyes.

"You're a good person, Isabel is too, so I know you two aren't going to throw me out just because my dad isn't around anymore," I began, "So what if...So what if Joseph goes after you two next? Because the only way to get to me is by getting rid of the two of you first?"

He didn't say anything, and so I realized this meant that I was right; Joseph probably would go after Godric and Isabel if needed. Well, he wouldn't go directly after them, as he was a coward; but he'd figure out a way.

"I just don't want to lose either of you," I confessed quietly, "I don't think I'd be able to handle losing anyone else that I care about."

There was a moment of silence, and I suddenly felt very embarassed by my confession, when I heard Godric let out a quiet chuckle. "I never thought I 'd see the day where a human would worry about my well being," He admitted, glancing at me from the corner of his eye, the corners of his lips tugged slightly upward.

"However," He continued, "I want you to only worry about your own safety; Isabel and I can take care of ourselves."

That's what you said about my dad...I wanted to tell him, but decided not to.

I had nothing else left to say, but there was something that I wanted to do. I was hesitant at first, but then I did it. I leaned forward, and hugged Godric. I felt him stiffen for a second before his own arms hesitantly went around me.

I smiled as I realized this was the first time this week that I was allowing anyone to comfort me.

A/N Hello all! What did you think of this chapter? Like, no like? Any suggestions? I enjoy reading what you guys think, and would love to hear about what you think is going to happen in the futur, or who you might think the traitor is ;)

Reviews are welcomed and appreciated!

P.S Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes. I usually review each chapter twice, but only got the chance to do it once this time.

:)