Brief A/N: I don't usually favor sticking translations and their meanings side by side, but since I have so many in more than one place in this chapter, that's what I'll be doing. Usually, if it's just a word or two, I'll stick them at the bottom. Also, Swedish is not a language that I speak, so any mistakes in the translations are entirely the result of Google Translate. Reviews feed my narcissism
Mercy woke for the final time at 2:30. Godric was wrapped tightly around her, the only reason she was still in bed. She'd started her attempts to rise at 9:30, the latest she ever slept in on a Saturday. She had plans. But no—Godric was as clingy as an octopus, and he was literally dead to the world. In five hours of trying to free herself she'd only been able to wiggle six inches. She hadn't even been able to reach her cell phone; it was on the bedside table, but the blasted vampire had them entrenched firmly in the middle of the large bed. This was getting ridiculous. Plus, she really had to pee.
Her phone started ringing, yet again, but not even the digital sounds of Paint it Black could rouse the dead weight settled around her. It was Ethan. Kate must have given up on reaching her and called Ethan. Wonderful. If she didn't answer it, he'd come over. And that couldn't end well.
Mercy maneuvered until she was able to at least get one of his arms moved. It wasn't enough to get free, but she could at least angle her body far enough to reach the phone. The phone was silent, but she quickly pulled up the recent call list and selected Ethan's number.
"Where are you? Kate said she's been trying to reach you all day!"
"I-um- I woke up with a migraine this morning."
Great. Now she was lying to Ethan. And lying about a medical condition no less. She was going to hell for this. Still, she thought, better to lie about a headache than have Ethan come over while Godric was still here. Her half-brother hated vampires, and she didn't need one or both of them to end up dead.
"I've been sleeping most of the day, and just woke up. I never heard the phone ring."
It was amazing how quickly a person could switch from outrage to concern.
"Do you need anything? Do you need me to come over?"
"NO. I've already taken my meds, so there's nothing for you to do, unless you want to give Kate a call for me and let her know."
"I'll take care of it. Just get some rest, Mercy."
"I will. I'm already starting to feel better."
"Don't overdo it. Take it easy the rest of the day."
As she set the phone back on the table, she got an idea. Using both hands, she grabbed the edge of the table and used it to pull herself out of Godric's embrace. Muscles she didn't even know she had screamed in protest. Not to self: the rumors about sex with a vampire were true. The man-child had gone non-stop for hours last night, and Mercy was the one paying the price for it. Wincing as she finally made it out of the bed, she quickly grabbed some clean clothes and made her way to the bathroom. A hot shower was second on her to-do list, followed by the strongest pain killers or muscle relaxers she had in her medicine cabinet. She definitely needed something.
An hour later, after the hot water heater was empty, Mercy was finally starting to feel halfway human. And she could move without wanting to stake the vampire still sleeping in her bed. She glanced at the clock as she slipped into a pair of jeans and a comfortable t-shirt. It was almost 4:00. Eric would be here in only a few hours, and she'd gotten nothing accomplished.
Not knowing how much longer Godric would be out, Mercy grabbed her purse and her keys. She needed food, and she needed to pick up some TruBlood. She wasn't feeding him again. She was still somewhat pissed hat he'd helped himself to her blood in the middle of last night's activities. The bite marks might not be visible, but she'd almost prefer he'd taken from the neck. Feeding from the femoral artery was uncomfortably intimate.
TB-tb-TB-tb-Tb-tb
Godric woke to the knowledge that he was alone in the house. His human was not by his side, nor could he hear her heartbeat. He cursed the sun still high in the sky—he could not go find her.
This was unacceptable. She was vulnerable when she was away from him. It must have been some time since he'd given her his blood; he could not feel her emotions as strongly as he should. He would rectify that tonight, after he made certain she wouldn't leave him again. He would keep her with him at all times until he made certain there was no threat to them.
Did he dare brave the rest of the house? This bedroom was light tight, further indication that he shared this dwelling with his human, but he didn't know if that safety extended to the rest of the house. If he stepped out and the house wasn't completely dark—he knew it would take very little time to burn. He couldn't leave his human alone again.
For the moment, this room warranted further exploration. He slipped out of the bed, and padded over to a set of doors he'd ignored last night. He didn't recognize this furnishing. Pulling the doors open, he was startled when he was faced with a large black mirror. Why would anyone want a black mirror? The reflection couldn't possibly be beneficial. Sitting beside the mirror was a slim black rectangle. Godric picked it up gingerly, wondering at its purpose. There was a soft red circle in one corner, which sank down when he pressed it. Without warning the black mirror changed and was now filled with tiny people. Godric jumped back with a hiss, and hurled the black rectangle at it, breaking it. To his surprise, the trapped people disappeared. What kind of witchcraft was this that made it possible to keep people in a mirror? Why would his human have such a thing in their home? She couldn't be a witch. No, this must have been planted by whatever dark force brought him back. As soon as it was dark out, he would take this evil thing out of the house and bury it far from any humans.
The mirror destroyed, Godric turned his attention to the rest of the room. Shelves lined with books occupied a corner. A large piece of wooden furniture containing several drawers took half of a wall, and above it hung a large mirror. He noticed a set of doors that he'd ignored previously; now was the time to explore. Unsure of what he would find he carefully opened the doors and stepped into a generous sized room that was full of clothing, and on top of shelves sat extra bedding and towels. A closet.
He had no real interest in the other room adjoining this; the room where his human had bathed last night. Knowing he wouldn't be able to rest again, he perused the books, and was pleasantly surprised to find more than one written in Latin. He thought he also saw one in Greek. Yes, he did. Someone had taken the time to put The Iliad into a book. Grabbing it, he returned to the bed. It was the area of the room where the comforting scent of his human was the strongest.
It was then that he noticed what should have been immediately apparent when he woke; blood stained the sheet. He'd been inordinately careful when he pierced his human's artery, so this could not have come from feeding. His human had been a virgin until last night? How was it possible that he'd never made love to her before? She was intoxicating.
Wonder over how his human had managed to remain pure was quickly overrun by concern. He had not been easy with her last night. If she was indeed virgin, she was likely in great discomfort, possibly even great pain. She must come home so that he could see for himself that she was alright.
He felt along their bond for her emotions. He detected no pain or anger, which was a great relief. His concern grew when he instead felt turmoil. She was conflicted, and sad. He couldn't define the loss he felt from her, or the dread of returning to him. Had he hurt her so badly? He cursed again the fact that he didn't give her his blood last night. He would be able to decipher what he was reading from her.
He heard the roar of the human's strange vehicle. She was home. His superior hearing picked up her footsteps as she made the walk to the door, and the sound of the key turning in the lock. He heard her moving around the main house, but she did not immediately return to him. He decided to risk opening the door. He needed to see her, and get some answers.
Very carefully, he opened the door only an inch. When no light spilled through, he opened it further to learn that the hallway was completely dark. He could safely move at least that far, and he suspected he would be able to move freely through the house. Moving silently he found her in the room that must be for food preparation, removing things, some of which he recognized as human food, and placing them in cabinets and drawers.
"Why did you leave me?"
She spun around with a yell at his question, but he pushed on.
"I cannot keep you safe if you leave my side."
She must understand the danger in leaving herself so exposed while there was a threat. The day's rest brought no new answers as to his renewed existence, or his missing memory. What if he wasn't the target? What if he was simply a means to get to her? She had no certainty that she was the intended victim, and she went off alone. Did his human have no sense of self preservation?
"Dang it, stop sneaking up on me!" Mercy yelled as she rounded on the vampire. She was going to put a cowbell around his neck. What was he even doing awake? It wasn't sunset yet, let alone dark. He wore an angry look, and she groaned to realize that was all he wore. He'd completely ignored the clothes she'd laid out for him.
If she'd hoped he would remember English when he opened his eyes, she was disappointed. She didn't understand a word that he said, but he sounded pissed. She gathered he wasn't too happy to find her gone when he woke up.
"Seriously kid, I can't talk to you until you put on some clothes. Come on already."
He followed her back to the bedroom, still ranting about something. He stood in the doorway as she tossed him a pair of jeans and shirt she'd laid on the armchair. He looked at her, dropping them on the floor and pointing at the bed.
"I don't know what you're thinking, kid, but that's not happening. Now put some darn clothes on!"
She picked them up and shoved them back into his arms. He dropped them on the floor again and crossed his arms. Stubborn vampire! Fine, two could play that game. Mercy turned her back on him, grabbing a book from the shelf and settling into the chair. Godric said something, but she ignored him, not taking her gaze form her book. Using his preternatural speed, the book was pulled from her hands in a split second and he attempted to force her chin up so that she looked him in the eye. She pulled free of his grip. His tone was frustrated when he spoke, but in seconds he was dressed and again standing in front of her, glaring his displeasure.
"See? That wasn't so hard now, was it?" she asked sweetly. It was when she looked up behind him that she saw—
"What the heck did you do to the TV?"
In her distraction she missed the fact that Godric moved at all until his now bleeding wrist was pressed against her mouth. She tried to pull it away, but her human strength was no match for his will. She couldn't clamp her mouth shut; that would only end with her teeth in his flesh. He held her skull, gently but firmly, preventing her from turning her head away. Her mouth was filling with blood, but he wouldn't move his wrist. On reflex she swallowed, mentally cursing him. Having his blood would only make everything harder.
TB-rb-TB-tb-TB
As Eric flew through the night air, his thoughts were centered squarely on that damned human pet of Godric's. What could she possibly need him to see? Godric's parting letter to him committed him to looking out for the woman's welfare (he would never ignore his maker's final request) but there was no love lost between them. On her part, she claimed that pigs would fly before she ever contacted him for help. He was honestly surprised that she'd even kept his number. For his part, he blamed her for Godric's death.
He'd known that his maker had been dissatisfied, even melancholy, for many years. But it was only in the last decade that he'd felt those things through the bond to such a degree that he'd worried for Godric's sanity. And then to find out that Godric no longer believed that vampires belonged on this Earth? To hear from his maker's own lips the same vitriol spilled by hate-filled humans? To leave him to face the sun alone, commanded by him to do so, only to find out that he'd concealed a human companion for ten years?
Who else but this human could have been responsible for poisoning the thoughts of one such as Godric? It certainly wouldn't have been any of his nest mates. The Fellowship of the Sun couldn't be blamed, not when they had him only because he was already filled with those thoughts. No, it could only be the human woman he'd spent so much time with.
He'd been prepared to give the human the benefit of the doubt when they first met. For Godric to have thought so highly of her, surely there must be something remarkable about her? And think highly of her Godric did: he left her a house, a portion of his nearly incalculable wealth, and the promised protection of his children (Eric always wondered if Nora was even aware that she'd been so committed).
But more even than what he said in his will, Godric had believed enough in this human to make a personal request to his first child. He believed that they could console each other after his passing. From Godric's letter, Eric had come to believe that Mercedes Wright was a most rare individual: a human his might be able to respect and possibly even like. Then she had to open her mouth and blame him for the fact that Godric chose the sun.
As if he hadn't done all that he could to persuade his maker to stay. Had he not threatened to forcefully keep his son alive? Had he not pleaded with his beloved father, weeping tears of blood at his feet? And, all that having failed, had he not tried to die alongside his brother, stopped only by a command he was powerless to oppose? The human knew nothing. And she dared to blame him, when she hadn't even been there? She was fortunate he was bound by Godric's final wishes to protect her, or he would have snapped her neck that very night.
Mercedes' strange phone call had puzzled him since it ended, until he went to bed for the day. He'd warned her not to call for anything less than life-threatening, and she'd said that nothing less than imminent death would compel her to even consider calling him for help. Yet whatever was wrong could wait until the next night. What could the human consider important enough to risk his wrath for being disturbed?
He would stop in and see Isabel once he was done with Mercy. She called him regularly to keep him updated on the girl. He would stay at the Carmilla; it was too uncomfortable to stay in a Dallas nest where Godric was not Sheriff.
In a short time, he arrived at Godric's home. It felt almost blasphemous that a human was living there, even if she was Godric's pet. Bracing himself for what he was sure would be a massive waste of this time he landed on the front step, then froze. He knew that voice. But how in the—he grabbed the doorknob and pulled, ripping the door off its hinges, fangs bared.
"Eric!"
The human sounded pissed, matching the look of fury he could only barely make out, but he ignored her in favor or the vampire standing protectively in front of her.
"Godric."
By the gods, how was it possible? He tried to take a step towards his maker but was blocked by an invisible barrier. Damn it. Legally the house still belonged to Mercedes.
"Invite me in, human."
She tried to step around Godric, but he pushed her behind him. Eric knew his maker well. He would not let his human expose herself to any implied threat. And for some reason he seemed to think Eric was a threat.
"Oh, for heaven's sake you caveman, he's a friend! Eric, please come in! Just—be careful!"
As soon as he had permission, he stepped inside the house. The moment he crossed the threshold, he found himself on the floor, his maker pinning him down, fangs almost in his neck.
"Godric, det Eric." (Godric, its Eric)
The smaller vampire froze above him. That voice, so familiar- he'd heard it through his human's contraption the night before. And that face….
A battlefield. He always followed battles. Not only did he love to watch the human's fighting, a battle meant lots of dead and dying; an easy meal. He didn't know who was fighting, nor did he care, but his attention was taken by a giant of a man. He towered over the other humans, enemy and friend alike. It was beautiful to watch. He'd never seen anyone fight like this human.
"Du känner inte mig?" (You don't know me?)
The giant spoke the language of the north men. More importantly, the giant had not raised even a hand in self defense. He now looked concerned, and was looking to his human. Godric backed up, allowing this Eric to sit up.
" Jag känner ditt ansikte" (I know your face)
"Will you kindly explain what the HELL is going on here?"
Eric directed the question to Mercy, who looked a mixture of stunned and disappointed.
"I thought surely he'd remember you."
He tried to stand, but Godric growled at her.
"Jag menar inget illa till mänskliga. Jag svurit att hålla utkik efter hennes" (I mean no harm to your human. I am sworn to look out for her)
" Känner du henne? Vad heter hon?" (You know her? What is her name?)
Eric blinked. Godric didn't know his human's name? He looked to Mercy for an explanation, but Godric forced him to turn back ot him.
" Hennes namn?" (Her name?"
" Hennes namn är Mercedes." (Her name is Mercedes)
TB-tb-TB-tb
"He just showed up last night," Mercy began as she handed Eric a warmed TruBlood before taking a seat on the couch. Eric wisely chose the armchair, putting him a respectable distance from Mercy, especially with Godric sitting between them. Eric drank his bottle to be polite, trying not to grimace at the taste, as he tried to work out what was different about the human. Godric was carefully keeping physical contact with her, which she didn't seem comfortable with, but—
"He's had you."
He knew virgin blood when he smelled it. She'd been a virgin the one time they met, and he was certain she wasn't seeing anyone regularly. Isabel's sources were very reliable. Besides, while she might have showered sometime today, Godric hadn't, and her scent was all over him.
"That is so none of your business, and beside the point."
Mercy had hoped, really hoped, that Godric would remember his child. How could he not know someone he'd spent a thousand years with? But no, he was eyeing Eric with a large dose of mistrust. He'd calmed down only slightly after his conversation (if it could be called that) with the blonde vampire. And thankfully he finally started drinking his TruBlood once he saw Eric doing the same. Hopefully he wouldn't try to bite her again before she could get him out of the house.
"Right. So he just showed up? How is such a thing even possible?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. Probably better. But he showed up on my doorstep, completely naked and not speaking English. And I don't think he knows me."
That explanation had so many holes in it, it couldn't possibly be trust. But no, Eric had to admit that Mercy wasn't trying to lie to him. He'd never heard of anything that could resurrect a dead vampire. He'd put the question to the witches; he knew a crone who owed him a favor. Maybe they'd heard of something that powerful.
What bothered Eric the most was the fact that Godric had come here, to his human, rather than his own child. He didn't even remember the damned woman. Why should he go to her instead of Eric?
"Du säger att du är mitt barn." (You say you are my child.)
It was the first unsolicited question Godric asked him, and Eric turned his attnetion to his maker.
" Jag är." (I am)
It hur that Godric didn't seem to recognize him, but he kept that hurt masked. It seemed to work well enough on Godric, but Mercy's look of sympathy suggested she was more perceptive than he gave her credit for.
" Hur länge har jag varit borta?" (How long have I been gone?)
" åtta månader." (Eight months)
As soon as the conversation switched to Swedish, Mercy tuned them out. She'd once watched Godric and Isabel argue in Spanish for five solid minutes. She couldn't guess how long this pair might go on. She was only drawn in by the squeeze of Godric's hand on her leg, and he directed a question at her.
"What?"
She looked ot Eric for explanation. Lucky vampire; he got ot play interpreter. Godric repeated himself, looking to Eric.
"He wants to know if what I say is true."
Godric spoke again.
"If I am his child. That he has been gone eight months. He says he knows you will not lie to him."
Both vampires were watching her, waiting for an answer. She nodded in affirmation. Godric asked anothe question, and Eric shook his head, answering in Swedish so that Mercy couldn't understand them, while Godric gestured to her.
"What was that?"
"He asked why I don't live with you Then he asked why the two of you don't live with me in my Area."
"I hope you told him we never lived together."
"I did, but he didn't belive me."
And now the both of them were smirking at her. At least she knew where Eric got it from.
"Eric. You have to take him back with you."
The smirk died immediately, and Godric was now looking between the two of them, concerned.
"Are you out of your mind?"
Godric would never agree to leaving her for Louisiana, not when she was the one he'd come to. And Eric just knew she wasn't talking about going with them. He didn't want to think of the damamge Godric might do when he suggested it.
"Eric, he's not safe here. I can't keep him hidden all the time."
"Mercy, he's a 2000 year old vampire. He doesn't need you to protect him."
"A 2000 year old vampire with no idea what century he's living in! Isabel comes around frequently, Eric. You remember Isabel, right? The newest Sheriff of Area 9, who reports directly to the King of Texas, a vampire who was afraid of Godric long before he died? What the heck do you think Vincent would do to Godric if he found out he somehow came back from the dead? He's a target here, Eric."
"No one would dare attack Godric," Eric objected. "He would tear them apart."
"I would agree with you if he had his memories, but he doesn't even know you. And he has a far better chance of recovering those memories with the person who's known him a thousand years than with the person who's known him ten. You have to get him out of here before he gets hurt."
He hadted to admit hte human had a valid point. Godric seemed to be missing a millennium at least. While still physically strong, that knowledge was gone: if Vincent or someone else was to challenge him, it was possible he mikght lose. But Eric doubted any of that would matter to the vampire demanding to be told what was wrong.
"What makes you think that Shreveport would be safer?"
"Apart from the simple fact that you'll be with him? He's not well-known in Louisiana. You can spin any story you want. You could say he needed a break and took off, but now he's back. I mean, there have to be other vampires who disappeared for awhile then popped back up, right? In Louisiana, only you and Miss Stackhouse would know for sure what happened, and I'm certain she'll keep her mouth shut."
"Sookie's been missing for months," Eric answered absently as he considered Mercy's argument. Godric could be much better protected if he came to Shreveport. Eric would tear apart with his bare hands anyone who dared try to attack his maker. And he certainly knew much more about Godric than she did It would be much easier to spread a believable story in Shreveport than Dallas.
"I'm sorry to hear that, but it works out better for this particular problem."
Godric watched the two talking back and fort. He heard his name; they seemed to be arguing over him. But what could they want, and why was Eric telling him nothing?
" Sluta, Eric!" (Stop, Eric!)
Eric stopped arguing with the human and turned to his maker.
" Berätta," (Tell me) he ordered. Eric took a deep, unnecessary breath.
" Vi tycker att du ska följa med mig hem." (We think you should come home with me)
" Mercedes har gått med på att lämna här?" (Mercedes has agreed to leave here?)
If they both agreed to the move, why were they arguing? Eric was not telling the full truth, and Mercedes was watching him warily, waiting for something.
" Mercedes stannar här." (Mercedes will stay here.)
" Nej!" (No!)
His reaction was instant and explosive. He would not leave her! Child or not, this giant couldn't force him to leave her! He shot up from the couch, almost knocking it and Mercedes over, his fangs bared at Eric.
" Jag kommer inte att lämna om hon kommer också!" (I will not leave unless she comes as well!)
" Det är inte hennes önskan att komma." (It is not her wish to come.)
Godric froze. She wished for him to leave, but she didn't wish to go with them? His Mercedes thought to send him away? He spun around to face her again.
" Varför skulle du vilja lämna mig?" (Why would you wish to leave me?"
Mercy saw the moment understanding dawned on Godric's face. She held tightly to the couch, even as it threatened to topple over. Even if she spoke Swedish she would have no hope understanding their hurried yelling, but she recognized the hurt look on Godric's face when he turned back around to face her. She almost didn't need Eric to translate the question he shot at her.
"It's too dangerous for you to stay here," she answered once Eric confirmed the question. Godric's response began before Eric completely finished translating.
"He says that you won't be safe alone. If you wish him to go, you must come with us."
That was out of the question. She couldn't simply pack up and leave her life behind. She had Ethan and Ava to think about. She had a career, and obligations.
"I can't leave this place."
If she just disappeared with no explanation, Isabel would start looking for her. That was how seriously she took her promise to keep an eye out for Godric's human friend. There was no excuse the vampiress would believe to explain a sudden move, either. If the Sheriff started poking around, all of this could end up for nothing.
"He wants to know if he really hurt you so badly you want to send him away."
Eric's question cut through her thoughts. Mercy decided to just ignore the blonde's half smirk at the verbal confirmation that they had indeed had sex. There were bigger issues at hand.
"That has nothing to do with this. It's just not safe for you to stay here, Godric. And I can't come with you."
Eric relayed her words, and she could see the smaller vampire getting stubborn. He grabbed her by the shoulders and stared at her, unblinking. She mentally cursed those blue-grey eyes that could stare so deeply through her. He spoke softly, which only made his words all the more threatening.
"He says he's not leaving you here."
She kind of gathered that. Mercy bit her lip, hard, as tears threatened. Darn, stubborn vampire! She didn't want to hurt the kid. Was he really going to make her do this?
"You have to," she whispered before raising her voice to a normal level. "I rescind your invitation, Godric. And Eric."
"Mercy, don't do this to him," Eric almost begged, even as both vampires unwillingly began to back out of the living room. Godric protested, yelling something Eric didn't translate. Mercy followed them to the open doorway. Godric threw himself against it, blocked by the barrier now in place, and howled in rage.
He didn't understand. She'd evicted him from her home—their home—when he could feel that she didn't want to do so. He raged against the house as she stayed beyond his reach, putting cracks in the plaster. He would take down the walls, destroy the house so that she had to come out. She couldn't do this to him! He could feel her anguish—why did she insist on doing this when it only hurt them both?
"Varför?! Mercedes, varför?!" (Why?! Mercedes, why?!)
He heard her choke back a sob as she fled from him, into the recesses of the house he could no longer enter.