Chapter Five:
Grace's eyes widened as she twisted around to find the same vampires from the previous night. She felt frozen to the spot as she just stared at the approaching vampires, fear coursing through her veins. "Godric…"
"I know," he murmured under his breath, grasping onto her arm and quickly tugging her behind him and out of sight of the vampires. He cursed himself for not paying better attention to his surroundings. He was more than two thousand years old; he should not have made such a foolish mistake. But he had been enamored by Grace, yet again, and lost all sensibilities.
Godric was beginning to realize that while Grace may have just been the reason to live that he had been searching for, she was also his weakness.
"Godric, what are we…" her heart was pounding painfully in her chest as her hands curled around his arm, her fingernails digging into his flesh. He could hear the fear in her voice and a rage grew inside of him. The thought of anyone frightening Grace angered him.
"I won't let anyone harm you," he promised, gazing at her over his shoulder. "I swear it."
She nodded, trusting him with her life. He hadn't failed her last night, and she knew he wouldn't fail her tonight.
"Well don't you look good enough to eat," the shorter of the two suddenly appeared behind Grace, licking his lips hungrily as he leaned forward and sniffed the air around her.
Grace yelped as her grasp tightened on Godric's arm. Godric growled in warning as he pulled Grace to his side protectively. He would not these vampires harm a single hair on her body. He would end both of their existence before they could cause his Grace an ounce of pain.
"She's spoken for," Godric's orbs narrowed as he glared between the two young vampires. "I would suggest searching elsewhere for a meal."
"I think we'd rather this one," the taller vampire approached with a smirk. "I'm sure there's more than enough to go around. There's no need to be greedy."
"It doesn't look like she's been claimed," the first grew closer to Grace, eying her neck. "She's free for the taking."
Godric's fangs dropped into place with a sharp click, baring them at the threatening vampires. "She's mine."
"Doesn't look like it," the taller suddenly grasped onto the belt wrapped around Grace's wait and tugged her from Godric's side. His arm wrapped tightly around her waist while digging his nose through her locks of hair in search of her pulsing vein. "You smell delicious."
Grace struggled against his hold, pleading with Godric with wide eyes. It was no use, however; the hold on her was too strong for her human strength to break.
"She. Is. Mine," Godric hissed. "You will unhand her."
"I don't believe I will," the vampire snickered, tangling his fingers in her hair and yanking her head to the side, revealing her long neck. "I'm going to enjoy this one."
With extended fangs, the vampire growled with hunger as his fangs came within an inch of Grace's neck before Godric suddenly appeared at their side, ripping the vampire away from her. His hand was wrapped securely around his throat as he forced the vampire to his knees. The vampire tried to struggle, but it was no use; Godric was the strongest being alive.
"Do you know who I am?" Godric snarled so dangerously low that even Grace shuddered. "Do you know who's human you nearly just fed from?"
The vampire merely snapped his fangs at Godric, not fearing the ancient vampire in the least. This only angered Godric further.
"If I was still your Sheriff, you would be executed for your insolence," His grip tightened. "She. Is. Mine. She is my human, and you dare to feed from her?"
"You haven't claimed her," the shorter defended, glaring at Godric as he glanced at his vampire friend. "She's free for the taking."
Godric growled, shooting the other vampire a dark look. "You would do best to walk away. Now."
"I don't think so," the shorter vampire smirked widely as he reached for Grace.
Grace yelped as the vampire grasped her by the arm and roughly dragged her to his side. He smirked down at her as she tried to struggle, as she tried to fight back. She tried to kick at his shins, to scratch at his arms, but she was utterly defenceless against the vampire.
She was so focused on trying to break free of the vampire's hold, knowing that if she didn't then she would likely die as a snack, that she never even noticed as Godric released the other vampire and appeared behind the one grasping onto her. It wasn't until the vampire's eyes grew wide and froze to the spot that she realized what was happening. Her jaw dropped open, a scream sounding from her lips as Godric's hands appeared on either side of the vampire's head, and with one quick tug, his head was ripped clean from the best of the body.
Grace immediately scrambled away as the head fell with a thud to the grass, but she wasn't safe from the spraying blood as the body turned into a pile of goo. She whimpered in horror as she stared down at herself. Her dress was drenched in blood and pieces of the once vampire's insides.
"Who the fuck are you?" the other vampire immediately jumped to his feet, but before he could hurry away, Godric flashed before him. His hand clamped around his throat for a second time, forcing him back to the ground. Grace could do nothing but stare at the scene, her stomach churning as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
"Who am I?" Godric's snarled. "I am Death."
The vampire's eyes grew wide as realization dawned. A dark smirk spread across Godric's lips as the vampire struggled. The monster from within stirred, remembering too well just how much he used to enjoy the struggles of his victims.
"G-Godric?" Grace's voice wavered, her breathing heavy as she tried to stop the vampire. "You don't have to…"
But she had already been too late. Godric didn't even turn his head as she ripped the head from the vampire's body without even a blink of an eye. Once again, blood splattered every which way, covering Godric and Grace even further.
The vampires were gone, but their bloody remains surrounded them.
Grace stared at Godric in horror, blood drenching his entire body. His breathing was unnecessary, but heavy as he slowly raised his gaze to meet hers. His expression immediately softened as he retracted his fangs and took a step towards her.
"Grace," he began.
She swallowed back the rising lump in her throat as she took a hesitant step back. Her heart was pounding as she just stared at him. She had known he was some ferocious vampire. She had known he was a supposed monster. But she had simply accepted that and chose to acknowledge the good she knew there was inside of him. He had had multiple chances to drain her dry, to kill her without a single ounce of guilt. But he hadn't. Godric had never laid one finger on her in harm.
But in that moment, Grace felt frightened. The man before her was not the same vampire that had kissed her only last night, and he certainly wasn't the same vampire that had aroused her in her own bedroom. This was a feral animal that had just killed two of his own kind brutally and without a second thought.
She felt scared. She didn't know what to think as she just stood there, covered from head to toe in blood, just as he was. The smell began to line her nostrils and she gagged in disgust. She had barely been able to take seeing her own blood; she wasn't sure she would be able to stop the rising vomit as she took in the destruction around them.
"I think I'm going to be sick," she groaned, twisting around and kneeling over, that night's dinner pooling on the ground next to the blood and guts. That thought only caused her knees to grow week and she crumbled to the ground on all fours, choking on her own vomit.
"Shh, little one," Godric appeared beside her, trying to soothe her as best as he could. Before he could lay a single finger on her, however, she was back to her feet and backing away from him.
"Don't touch me," she held her hands out in front of her, trying to keep her distance. Godric frowned as he rose to his feet, trying to reach out to her. "I said don't touch me!"
"Grace, please," he pleaded with her, desperation in his voice. "I'm sorry, but they were going to kill you. I couldn't have…"
"Stop," she shook her head, cringing as her blood soaked hair caught her in the face. She brushed her locks back and whimpered at the blood that dripped down her hand. "Just stop. Please."
"I was only trying to protect you,"
"Protect me? You were trying to protect me?" tears formed in her eyes as she tried so hard not to look at what was left of the two vampires. "You killed them, Godric! You just…you just killed them without even thinking about it."
His shoulders sagged, his face crumbling as he stopped moving forward. "They would have killed you, Grace. You're mine. I would not let them…"
"I'm not yours, Godric. I'm not your anything," she continued to put more and more space between them. She was swimming in her thoughts, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. Her night had started to terribly with her parents threatening to send her to another therapist. She had been hoping for some peace and quiet, just for a little while. She had needed to think, to clear her head. But then Godric showed up, and a small part of her was glad. She needed a distraction and he was the perfect solution.
She never, however, expected this.
"I have to go," she twisted on her heel suddenly. She needed to get out of here. She needed to not see the blood, to not feel it drying on her. She needed it off now.
Only Godric was there as she turned, his hands reaching for her. She tried to pull away, but his hands caught her cheeks, cradling them as if she was made of glass. '
"Let go of me," she shoved at his chest. He wouldn't budge, however, and remained where he was.
"I'm sorry, Grace," his orbs were filled with sadness. He hadn't wanted her to witness this side of him. He hadn't wished for her to ever know of the monster that he was. But he hadn't been able to control himself. The thought of losing Grace, of losing his last hope, it drove the beast right out of him. He had killed the vampires without a second thought, and he knew in a heartbeat that he would do so again. "I'm so sorry, little one."
"Get away from me," her voice was barely above a whisper as she kept pushing and shoving in hopes that he would leave her me. "Please just…"
"Don't be afraid of me," he caressed her cheek, only for her to flinch at his touch. "I would never hurt you. You know this. You knew that when you were only seven, and you still know that. I would never harm you. Please believe this."
She did. She knew that she did. But it didn't change what she had just witnessed. Nothing could erase that from her memory.
"Please let me go," her bottom lip quivered as she begged him. Her tears were threatening to escape and she was desperately trying to hold herself together.
He made the decision without a second thought. It pained him to see the fear in her orbs. Grace, however, knew the moment he caught her gaze that he was going to glamour her. Her eyes quickly snapped shut as she struggled against him.
"Don't do that!" she managed out of his grasps. "You don't get to do that!"
"Grace, please allow me to take away your fear," Godric pleaded with her. "I can make this all go away."
"I just want you to leave me alone!"
"Grace…Grace, look at me," he urged. "Look at me please."
She shook her head, instead darting around the vampire as best as she could with her eyes squeezed closed. Godric sighed as he appeared before her, Grace running straight into his chest. A small whimper escaped her lips as she doubled back away from him. He caught her around the waist with one arm, though, while grasping onto her chin with his other hand. He needed to take away her fright, to take away her pain. He needed to do so. But it still weighed heavily over his heart.
"Look at me," his tone was low and curt, his ancient authority seeping out of him and causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up straight. Grace shuddered as she struggled within his grasps, but his hold on her only tightened. "I said look at me!"
Her eyes suddenly snapped open at raise of his voice. The moment their gazes caught, her shoulders sagged in defeat. She could feel the pull immediately, the haze beginning to form around her consciousness. She could do nothing but stare into those deep blue orbs.
"My sweet, Grace," Godric caressed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. There was so much he wanted to say to her. A part of him merely wanted to take off into the night sky with her in his arms and to never part. He desired her in a way that he hadn't felt since he had turned his children. He couldn't simply lose her. He needed to glamour her, to take away this night, to erase the chaos from her memories. Or else he truly would lose her.
But as he began, he found that he couldn't do it. He couldn't say those words, he couldn't proceed any further. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to be toyed with, to have her mind altered because of his mistakes. She deserved her fear. She deserved the right to be frightened of the monster that he was.
Sighing heavily, Godric's hands dropped back to his sides, bowing his head and breaking the glamour. Grace frowned as she quickly took a step away, her eyes wide as she stared at him. She tried to think of anything he could have made her done, any suggestion he could have coaxed. But she felt no different. She still remembered every moment of what had just occurred. She still felt the same rush of fear mixed with confusion, of the desperate need to run away.
He hadn't done anything to her.
"You…" she didn't understand. Why hadn't he glamoured her? He could have made her calm down. He could have made her forget. But he had done nothing at all. "You didn't…"
"I won't stop you from leaving," he stepped out of her path, his gaze not meeting hers. "You will never understand how sorry I am for what I've done here tonight. I can only hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me."
Grace hesitated at the sad tone of his voice. She was reminded of the look on his face when he thought her troubled relationship with her parents had been his fault. He just looked so sad, so distraught, that for a split second, she forgot that she was covered in blood. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything was going to be all right. But as she opened her mouth to speak, to ensure him that she wasn't afraid of him, she found herself speechless.
There was so much she wanted to say, and yet she couldn't find the words.
"I-I need to go," she looked away.
Godric didn't stop her as she hurried passed him and out of the park as quickly as she could. She thanked god for being on her side as she wasn't met with a single soul or car as she ran across the street and into the safety of her apartment building. Breathing heavily, she slipped off her bloodied shoes and snuck up the stairs, not wanting to draw any attention to herself. She let out a sigh of relief as she reached her apartment, reaching for her purse.
"No," she groaned, realized in horror that it had dropped when the one vampire had grabbed at her. She hadn't thought about it at all, only wanting to get as far from that park as she could possibly get.
And now she was without the keys to her apartment.
"Fuck!" she threw her shoes to the ground in frustration.
She was trying so hard not to slide down the wall right then and there and just burst into tears. She was covered in blood; she couldn't just be standing in the middle of the hallway. If any of her neighbours peeked out, they would be horrified and would call the authorities. That was the last thing she needed. All she wanted was to get into her damn apartment and put this night behind her.
"Seriously?" she raised her hands to cover her face, only to freeze them in mid air, remembering that they were coated in someone else's blood. A soft sob escaped her lips as her shoulders began to shake. Why? Why had this happened? Why couldn't she have just had one night of peace and quiet? Why did her parents have to hound at her? Why did Godric have to appear and get her to talk about her life? Why did those vampires have to show up and ruin everything?
Grace couldn't stop the tears that slid down her cheeks, the sobs that were slipping from her lips. It had only been twenty-four hours ago that she had been sitting in that very apartment across from Godric, embarrassed that he had only just licked the blood from her wound. That night seemed like eons ago, however, and she so wished that it didn't She would give anything to go back in time, even to just a few hours ago.
"Grace?"
She bit down hard on her bottom lip as her entire body grew stiff. She could feel his presence, she could feel his orbs boring through her. It confused her to want to both flee and to turn into his arms.
"You forgot your bag. I thought you might…"
It was the latter instinct she embraced as she suddenly twisted around and threw herself at the vampire. Godric stumbled, his eyes growing wide as her hands clutched onto the fabric of his bloodied shirt. She didn't have a care in the world that she was only covering herself in even more blood. In that moment she didn't care at all.
It took a long moment before Godric slowly slid his arms around the sobbing girl, tugging her even tighter against him. His eyes closed as her tears mixed with blood, her entire form racking with her sobs. It tore at his already dead heart to know that he had been the cause of this pain. He had always been the reason for her pain, even long before he had returned to that swing set. Grace had been hurting for too many years because of him.
He would never forgive himself.
"I'm so sorry, Grace," he murmured, rubbing her back as comfortingly as he could. "I never wanted this. I never wanted you to see what I truly was."
She didn't even care though. She didn't care at all that she was clutching onto the man that had just killed two vampires before her very eyes. She didn't care that he could do the very same to her if he wanted to. She didn't care at all. She just needed not to think, to not let her thoughts stray to the blood covering her, to not remember the horrible dinner with her parents. She just needed to not think.
"Please come inside," she pleaded, her fingers tightening around the fabric of his shirt. Minutes ago all she wanted was to get as far away from this vampire as she possible could. But in that moment, all she wanted was to be closer than even possible. He may have just killed two vampires, their blood covering them, but just merely being in his presence – and his arms – made her feel safer than she ever had.
"I can't," he sighed heavily, his hands planting on her shoulders as he tried to tug her away.
"Why?" her head snapped up, her round orbs meeting his hesitant gaze. "Why can't you?"
Godric had to look away. If he even caught her stare, he would crumble. How had a simple human turned his world upside down in such a short period of time?
"Godric, please?" her bottom lip quivered, her hands beginning to shake.
"I'm sorry," he grasped onto her hands, removing her fingers from his shirt. He held each hand gingerly in his, feeling a strong desire not to let them go. He knew, however, that he had to. "I've already done so much."
Her face fell when he dropped her hands and stepped away, putting distance between them. "I-I know I freaked out, and I'm sorry. I was just…I didn't…I…please come inside, Godric."
"I've done enough harm, it seems," his gaze dropped. "I don't wish to cause anymore."
"But Godric…"
"I think it would be best if we didn't see one another again."
Grace's heart stopped. "What?"
"I'm not someone you should be around, Grace. I'm nothing but a monster," he hung his head in shame. It pained him to say this, to keep his distance. But he knew it had to be done, for her own safety, for her own future. She didn't deserve the pain he had already caused her. "You deserve a better life."
"But…" she didn't know what to say. She barely knew him. She didn't have the right to beg with him to stay. And yet she so wanted to. The last few nights had been some of the best of her life. She had never connected with someone like she had with Godric. It shouldn't have been possible to feel so attached to someone so quickly, but it was. Maybe it was pathetic or silly, but the mere thought of never seeing Godric again caused the panic to stir inside of her.
"I'm sorry, Grace," he began to turn, to just disappear from her life forever.
"Please don't go," she grabbed onto his arm before he could slip away. "If this is about what just happened then I…"
"I can't do this, Grace," Godric shook his head. "It would be best if you forgot about me."
"I didn't forget about you when I was seven; I don't think I can just forget about you now," Grace argued. "You can't just leave."
"You should have. I should have glamoured you. I was foolish not to."
Tears filled her orbs. "So what, you're just going to glamour me now? You couldn't a few minutes ago. You tried to but you couldn't. Which means you don't want to. So then don't go."
"I have to," he insisted, prying her hand off of his arm. "I'm sorry, but I do."
"But I don't want you to."
He thought about leaving, about just turning around and disappearing without uttering another word. But Godric found that he could not. Sighing, he turned back towards her, taking a step forward and cupped her cheeks. Grace held her breath as he drew even closer, her eyes growing as wide as saucers.
"You will never realize just how difficult it is for me to leave," he murmured, caressing her cheek. Being so close to her, touching her, it was slowly making him reconsider. "But I do have to."
"But…"
"You should forget about me, but I will never be able to erase you from my thoughts," his orbs dropped to her lips, the need growing inside of him. He wanted to enjoy those plump lips one last time; a true kiss this time.
"Godric…"
She was interrupted, however, by a pair of lips claiming her own. Her entire body froze as his tongue darted out, brushing along her bottom lip before she came back to her senses. Her hands moved on their own accord, wrapping around his neck and pulling him even closer. Her eyes fluttered close as she prayed for the moment never to end. She hadn't stopped thinking of his kiss from last night; a kiss that he insisted had only been to calm her down. But she had dreamed of those lips on hers, imagined what it would be like to kiss him again. She refused to just let him slip through her fingers, even if they were drenched in blood.
Godric tried to pull away, but Grace moaned and tightened her grasp on him. She pressed herself against him, her cheeks flushing red as she felt him begin to harden. Her heart fluttered and the mere thought of the guts of another being strewn over her was forgotten. The burning desire for this vampire was enough to make her forget about everything else.
But the vampire did manage to pull away, only to rest his forehead against hers, both of their eyes closed as Grace caught her breath.
"Please don't go, Godric," she pleaded softly.
"I'm already gone, my sweet,"
Her eyes snapped open, but she was only met with an empty hallway.
Godric was gone.
A/N: I AM SO SORRY!
So school has stolen my life. it's my last year and I have huge assignments due within the first seven weeks so it's extremely hectic. and there's also the little fact that I've had the worst writers block (angry Godric wouldn't write himself for some reason. weird). I swear I haven't forgotten these fics. Until The Last Heartbeat is giving me a bit of trouble as well, but I mean, I've come up with lots of great smut scenes, so I feel like y'all will be forgiving me (somewhat) soon enough. I am super sorry again. You've all taken the time out to read and even review and I just want everyone to know how appreciative I am. Y'all rock!