Chapter Six:
Three days had passed since she had washed the blood from her body. Three days had passed since she had tossed her bloodied dress into the dumpster behind her apartment building, praying that no one discovered it. Three days had passed since she had last seen Godric.
Three days had passed and she had never been more miserable.
She worried about her dress being discovered. She worried that someone would learn of what happened in the park that night. She worried that Godric would get into trouble. Hell, she worried that she really wouldn't see him again. It was the latter that haunted her the most. She shouldn't have been so attached; she shouldn't have cared so much. He had been the one who had killed two vampires before her very eyes. He was a ferocious vampire, after all. And yet, that stupid vampire filled her thoughts day and night and she hated it.
She wasn't supposed to be a pathetic schoolgirl with a crush. She wasn't supposed to fall head over heel over some vampire she had only really just met. He was a stranger. She had first met him when she was seven and for the better part of her life she wondered if he had actually been real or not. She wasn't supposed to like him. What was wrong with her?
It was almost a welcome distraction, however. Between thinking about her bloodied dress and the ancient vampire, she would much rather her thoughts be filled with Godric. At least she wouldn't burst into tears and have a mental break down when she thought about Godric. Besides the first night after he left, anyways.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Grace sighed as she gazed over at her roommate from where she sat on the couch. She had been staring out the window again, staring at that damn swing set. She hadn't been able to stop herself from hopefully gazing out across the park every night after the sun had set, just wishing to see Godric sitting there in her stolen swing.
"Gracey?"
"Sorry," Grace shot Amy an apologetic smile. "What were you saying?"
"Are you doing alright?" Amy asked worriedly, setting her textbook on the table as she leaned forward in her chair. "You've seen out of it the last few days. Is it about your parents?"
Grace shrugged. She wasn't sure how to answer her.
"You know you're parents are a little nuts," Amy tried to assure her. "Don't listen to them. You're an adult. They don't have the right to walk all over you. If you want to leave school for a while, then do it. This is your life, babe, not theirs."
"I know," Grace nodded.
Amy frowned as she tilted her head to the side. "But it's actually not about that, is it? Is it that vampire? Did he do something to you?"
She tried desperately not to give herself away, but Grace had never been great at masking her emotions. Her gaze dropped to her lap and she just knew her misery was present on her face.
"Ah, so it is about him."
"It's not…" Grace insisted, but failed horrible.
"Oh I know a thing or two about pining over a guy," Amy rolled her eyes and laughed. "So what is it about him? You haven't really talked about him at all, and you've been home the last few nights. Did something happen between you two?"
Grace's hands began fidgeting in her lap. How was she supposed to explain what happened? How could she possibly express why she felt so miserable without sounding like a complete lunatic?
"Was he terrible in bed?"
Grace's mouth dropped open as she quickly shook her head. "Amy!"
"What?" the red head shrugged. "You remember the guy I dated in freshman year? He had a small one and was a quick one two. I'm sorry, but he was terrible and I couldn't deal. Is that it? Did he have a small…"
"No! I mean I don't know," her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.
"You mean you two didn't…" Amy raised an eyebrow. "Honey, he was gorgeous and you didn't climb him like a tree? Are you insane?"
Grace groaned in embarrassment. It wasn't like she didn't want to…
"Oh well it looks like you did want to, then," Amy smirked widely. "So why didn't you? I hear vampires are animals in bed."
"Can we please stop talking about this," the more Amy brought it up, the more Grace was thinking about it and she couldn't think about Godric like that. Especially since she'd likely never see the vampire again. She couldn't wonder how he would be in bed if she'd never have the opportunity to experience it. She wasn't even supposed to want to experience it. Not with some feral vampire, anyways.
"But you like him," Amy quickly grew serious. "Don't you?"
Grace's face fell, her shoulders slumping forward. "I did. I do."
"So then what's the problem? Why haven't you been seeing him lately?"
Her gaze moved back to the window sadly. "I don't think I'm ever going to see him again, Amy."
"Why not? He seemed pretty interested when I walked in on you guys," Amy pointed out. "Are you sure? Maybe because you're not exactly all that experienced with guys, you read the signals wrong."
"I didn't," Grace sighed. God, how she wished it was only that. "He said he was leaving."
"Maybe he'll come back."
"He won't."
"Oh Gracey" Amy stood and moved around the coffee table to sit beside the distraught girl. She felt terrible for her friend. Grace had never been one to flaunt herself at guys. Amy could only remember one or two that she had even batted an eyelash at. But she had been different with Godric. Amy may know nothing about the vampire, but she knew how happy Grace had been that night she walked in on the two. She hadn't seen a smile so wide on her friend's face for so long. It killed her to see her now so miserable. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do? Major girls night? Wine and chocolate ice cream?"
Grace only shook her head, however. She didn't want to talk about how she felt, or even what had happened with Godric. That would only lead down a dangerous road that Grace didn't even want to think about. No, it would be much better to keep it to herself, even if it did cause her misery.
"I'm fine," Grace assured her, pushing herself off the couch. "I think I need some fresh air."
"Do you want me to come with?" Amy offered.
"No, you have that huge exam coming up," Grace shook her head. She wanted to be alone anyways, especially as she slinked across to the park in hopes that Godric might suddenly appear. "I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Amy didn't look convinced. "I don't mind. I could use a break."
"I'm fine, really," Grace forced a smile as she grabbed her jacket and began towards the door. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Alright, but be careful!' Amy called after her.
Grace waved at her friend as she slipped from the apartment, wrapping her coat tightly around herself as she hurried down the stairs and out the front door. The moment the cool breeze hit her in the face, she sighed in relief. She had been cooped up in that apartment for so long that it was a relief to be outside, to be able to breathe properly. She knew it couldn't last long, that it was too dangerous to be out while it was dark; what happened days ago was testament to that. But she was going to enjoy the few minutes of peace and quiet for as long as she possible could.
Passing where the dumpster laid, Grace shuddered, knowing her bloodied dress was still in there somewhere. She would be happy once the garbage was taken the next day and she would never have to think about that dress again. Only she knew that she would never forget that night. How could she?
Sighing, Grace hurried across the street to the park she should have been avoiding. But even after everything that had happened, she was still drawn to her favourite swing set. It had always been the one place she could run to and clear her head, to figure out whatever was wrong in her life. It was her special place, and while it was unfortunately where two vampires had burst into goo, it would always remain her special place.
As she approached the swing set, she was surprised to find not a single trace of the bloodied remains of the vampires. Instead, it had appeared like the ground had been dug up before smoothed over with sand covering what it could reach of the disturbed ground. Unless one was peering closely, no one would even realize anything had occurred.
"Damn, he's good," Grace muttered to herself, shaking her head at all Godric must have done to hide the evidence of that night.
The thought of Godric, however, only caused her expression to fall. She was supposed to get her mind off of Godric, not to fill her thoughts with the vampire.
"Stop it," she murmured to herself as she settled onto her swing, trying to keep her gaze from straying to the disturbed ground.
She didn't need to think about that night either.
"Why the hell did I come out here," Grace groaned, closing her eyes tightly as she tried to focus on anything besides the ancient vampire and the reason he had left. But no matter what she did, it was all she could think about. "Stupid stupid stupid."
"Why yes, you are."
Grace's orbs snapped open and grew wide as she immediately shot off the swing at the sudden appearance of the man before her. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots and if it had been any other circumstance, she would have burst out laughing. But she knew the moment she laid eyes on the man that he was a vampire. She was only proven right when fangs extended, causing her to gasp and try to scurry backwards. The vampire caught her by the arm, however, his fingers digging painfully into her skin.
"Oh you're not going anywhere, sweetheart," the vampire sniffed the air around her before smirking. "Oh you're the one we've been looking for. I'm going to enjoy eating you."
"P-please…" Grace begged, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She should have been more careful. She had nearly died only three days ago; she shouldn't have been so foolish to think it was possible it wouldn't happen again. "Please don't kill me."
"I won't," he assured before he had her by the waist, throwing her over his shoulder. He chuckled darkly at her screams, his smirk only growing wider. "Not yet anyways."
Her screams were met with deaf ears however, as the vampire suddenly dashed out of the park, not a single soul witness to Grace being taken.
"This is the one we've been looking for,"
Grace yelped as she was suddenly tossed to the ground, grunting as pain shot through her entire body as her back impacted with the hardwood floor. The vampire smirked down at her hisses of pain, licking his lips as he winked in her direction.
"You are certain?" a light accented woman questioned, standing behind a desk.
"Are you doubting me, Isabel?"
"I'm only making sure, Stan," the woman sighed. "Are you certain this is the human involved?"
Stan narrowed his eyes as he glared at the Hispanic woman. "I followed their scent to her apartment building last night. This is her."
Isabel didn't look convinced, however, as she gazed down at the girl. She didn't appear as she expected. She didn't look like a V dealer or drainer, and she certainly didn't look capable of murder. But Isabel knew better than to judge by appearances.
"What is your name?" Isabel moved around the desk, stopping only a foot from where the girl was rubbing her back.
Grace's eyes grew as wide as saucers as she slowly turned her gaze to the rest of the room. She was surrounded by vampires, at least half a dozen not including the brute that had taken her from the park. She was surely going to die tonight, she just knew it.
"Answer her," Stan grunted, kicking her leg like she was just a sack of meat. "Or am I going to have to coax it out of you, darling?"
"Stan," Isabel sent him a warning glare.
"Can I eat her already?" he appeared bored. "I'm hungry."
"You are such a barbarian," Isabel sighed while shaking her head. "Leave us."
Stan raised an eyebrow. "I brought you the bitch that killed two of our own. I want to eat her!"
"Stan!" she hissed harshly. "Leave us. All of you."
"But…"
"I am your sheriff, Stan. Do not cross me."
Stan glared between Isabel and the girl before huffing and storming out of the room. Grace watched with hesitance as the other vampires in the room slowly began following until she and the female vampire were alone. She was, however, so certain that was a good thing. Godric had mentioned being a Sheriff. He had mentioned being in power. This woman must have been the Sheriff now after Godric. Grace doubted that every vampire was as decent and kind as Godric was.
"Now, what is your name?" Grace was surprised when Isabel's tone softened just the slightest bit.
She couldn't find her words, however. She was frightened. She had been taken right out of the park that had once been her safe haven and just dumped into this room. She was being blamed for the murders of those vampires, she knew it. The cowboy had even said he had followed their scent to her building. He must have found the dress. He must have just been waiting for her to leave so he could pounce.
She was a goner for sure.
"I don't wish to harm you, I only want to know what happened," Isabel offered a hand. "I don't believe a girl like yourself could have possibly murdered two of my kind."
"W-what if I did?" Grace managed out, her voice wavering.
"But you didn't, did you?"
Grace swallowed back the rising lump in her throat as she slowly shook her head, taking the vampires hand and pulling herself to her feet. She tried to get a good look around, but the woman caught her attention with the smallest of smiles. Maybe she had been wrong; maybe Godric wasn't the only kind vampire.
"I didn't think so," Isabel motioned to the chair across from hers at the desk. "Please, sit miss…"
"Grace," she mumbled out, chewing on her bottom lip as she hesitantly took a seat. "You can call me Grace."
Godric was furious. He had expected her to be where she was supposed to be. He expected her to be where she had been the previous nights. She had been smart and not left her apartment, and he was relieved. But as he gracefully landed before Grace's apartment building, he knew in an instant that she was not inside. His gaze immediately snapped to the park across the street, hoping she was merely swinging on her damn swing. But she wasn't there either.
Her scent was, however.
His orbs narrowed as he appeared before the swing set, sniffing the air for her scent. His nostrils were filled with her and a shudder ran down his spine. There was another scent, however, a scent that he was very familiar with. His entire body grew tense as his hands curled into tight fists.
He knew that scent too well.
"Stan," Godric growled, his fangs threatening to extend as he tore off in the direction of his former underling's scent. He wasn't surprised at all that Grace's followed the same path, and he made a promise to himself to rip Stan apart himself if he laid a single hand on his Grace.
"You know who killed these vampires, don't you?"
Grace's nails dug into her kneecaps as she tried to fight the urge to flee. She knew she wouldn't get very far anyways, but that didn't cease the basic instinct of survival. The Sheriff may have seemed kind, but she had been brought here for a reason and Grace had a feeling that eventually, even this vampire would go to extreme lengths to get what she wanted.
She was really beginning to regret leaving her apartment.
"As you can imagine, we've been worried of our own survival as of late. The fellowship's dislike for my kind has only grown since the Great Revelation," Isabel leaned forward, trying to catch Grace's gaze.
Grace wasn't stupid, however, and made certain never to look her dead in the eye. She had fallen for that one too many times with Godric.
"When two of my underlings went missing, I was naturally worried," Isabel frowned. "Stan discovered their remains, and panic that the fellowship had begun another uprising. You can see why my colleague was a bit…abrupt after finding their blood along with your scent."
Grace remained quiet. She wasn't about to slip up and say something she wasn't supposed to. She wasn't involved with the Fellowship; she wasn't really doing anything wrong. But she couldn't just tell this Sheriff about Godric. She doubted the woman would even believe her that the former Sheriff was actually alive and well and had actually killed two of his own kind over some silly human. Hell, not even Grace completely believed it!
"Now I believe that you didn't mean for this to happen, but you do know how this occurred, and I need to know what happened. I need to know how I can protect my own kind. If the fellowship…"
"It's not the fellowship," Grace cursed herself as the words just spilled out of her mouth. Her lips immediately clamped shut in worry that she would be stupid and say anymore.
Isabel's eyebrows raised in surprise. "If it wasn't the fellowship, then who killed those vampires?"
Her gaze dropped to her lap, her hands fidgeting nervously.
"Grace," Isabel tried to catch her gaze, frowning further when she could not. "I need a name."
"I-I can't," Grace whispered, shaking her head. "I'm sorry they died. I'm really really sorry. But I can't give you a name."
Isabel sighed as she leaned back in her chair, gazing across the desk at the anxious girl. She was young and naïve, Isabel was certain of that. She easily could have gotten caught up into a situation much larger than herself, and unfortunately, Isabel needed to learn of what could have been targeting the vampires in her area. Before she could attempt to glamour the girl in hopes of discovering this new threat, the door to her office burst open.
"Stan," Isabel sighed as she stood. She didn't need to deal with the tempered vampire.
"Can I eat her yet?" Stan growled, eying the wide-eyed girl. "She killed two of our own, Isabel. I want her."
"She wasn't the one responsible," Isabel shook her head. "Remember who you are speaking to, Stan."
"She is a god damn murderer of our kind," Stan hissed, appearing behind grace as he wrapped a hand tightly around her throat and ripped her out of the chair. She let out a scream that was quickly ceased as his grasp tightened. She struggled, scratching at his hand in attempt to free herself. It was no use, however, and Stan quite enjoyed her feeble attempts. "If you won't do anything, then I will."
"Let her go Stan, I won't tell you again," Isabel ordered.
He only smirked, his fangs extended with a sharp click as he tore Grace's head to the side, exposing her long neck. She tried to kick, to hit him, to do anything to free herself. She had only just survived three days ago, and here she was, about to lose her life. And Godric wasn't there this time. He wasn't around to sweep in and save the day.
As Stan's fangs scraped along Grace's neck, a loud crash sounded in the nest. Isabel's head shot to the office door, and she was speechless as an unexpected form filled the doorway. Before a word could be spoken, Stan was ripped away from Grace and was thrown across the room.
"She. Is. Mine."