Author's Note:
Hey readers, just as a warning all three of our characters engage in some recreational drug use. Other than that, enjoy and make sure to check out my other story, Venturing into the Unknown!
Edit: I recently read a review from someone asking me if I can remove the drug use in future chapters. I'm sorry if this offends you, but I feel that it has a place in the story - that's why I put warnings in my author's notes. If drug use offends you in any way I suggest you don't continue reading this story.
Godric was not like other vampires. Godric wasn't even like the vampire people expected him to be. His soul was being torn away from him piece by piece, and he knew the end of his life was near. He had phoned his child Eric a week ago, asking him to visit his nest in Dallas. He hadn't told Eric that this was his last week on Earth yet, but he was waiting for the right moment. He loved Eric, and even Eric's progeny Pam, but it wasn't enough for him anymore. He was empty, and he was tired. 2000 years had been enough.
Godric was older than most vampires, the oldest in the country even. States all over the country had thrown him titles, there was even a few vampires asking him to be the head of the Authority. Yet Godric turned them all down. He took the role of sheriff only to placate Eric, since he had settled himself in Area 5 of Louisiana, and he didn't regret it but he didn't enjoy his work either. Godric was tired of being the voice of the tottering old fool, handing down orders to young carefree vampires that no longer cared or knew of his importance in their world. He was sick of having to deal with the same petty squabbles day in and day out.
When Eric arrived three nights prior, Godric had seen this as his final performance. His final chance to impart wisdom on Eric and show him that he could live a happy life without his maker. He had schooled himself not to slip up too early, and told his closest lieutenant Isabelle not to say anything until the right moment came. He was affected more than he wanted to admit by her crying the night he told her was ending his life, but he needed to do this for him and it was his final decision.
He and Eric had seen the sights of Dallas in first two nights. Godric had taken his child to all the best bars, restaurants and events he could – just part of a big show for his son. Godric had even made love to Eric on his first night, which he hadn't allowed in years. If he was being honest, Godric needed to be with his progeny one last time before it was over, and when Eric had kissed him that night Godric couldn't resist. They had made love thousands of times in their years together, but that night was the best. Godric could die peacefully with the knowledge of the two pleasing each other one last time, and the image Eric falling asleep with his head resting on his maker's chest. Godric had cried that night as he went to his day rest but his crimson tears were of peace and acceptance, and not regret.
It was on the third night of his visit that Eric suggested going to The Skyline – some bar he had heard of from one of the donors he had enjoyed. Godric acquiesced because – well wasn't that what this trip was about? He knew nothing of the establishment other than it served Tru Blood; that wasn't saying much since most every place in Dallas did these days. But Godric's night took a turn for the interesting when he saw Lola. He knew very little about her until he glamored her boss briefly before his departure, but Lola Blaire was an exquisite creature.
Godric had bedded many women – and men – in his days on Earth. Princesses, models, and the finest courtesans from across the globe had found their way into his bed and yet no woman had the same effect on him that Lola did. Godric knew that Eric was equally taken aback by the girl and her one-of-a-kind beauty. The girl was gorgeous, and he, Eric and the girl all knew it, but Godric felt a connection to her that he didn't understand at first. He felt attracted to her for sure, and was happy when she agreed to let the two of them walk her home, but there was a dimension of their "relationship" that Godric hadn't understood until he got to the roof of that building. As he watched Lola stare out at the city, he knew that the sorrow he saw in her eyes had come to a climax; the girl he saw before him had thought about jumping from this building and ending her own life.
He had considered the same rooftop many times when he thought of how he wanted to meet the sun. In fact, up until he had made his latest plan in the early hours of dawn this morning, he probably would've chosen this place for the scene of his death. There was nothing too extraordinary about the building – it was just an office building after all – but the way it highlighted the beauty of the city called to Godric; and it apparently called to Lola as well. Godric quickly decided that he would spend more time getting to know this girl; perhaps Eric would even extend his stay and the three of them could become acquainted with one another. There was something about this girl he thought, and even though he knew nothing would come of it he decided what was a few extra days of life? He chuckled as he thought of how happy Eric would be at the prospect before he made his way to a corner of the rooftop to look out in solitude.
Eric suspected that the two people he was on the roof with were suicidal. He internally laughed at the cosmos bringing the three of them together at such an odd time, in such an odd way but then again it might be the influence of something more than the cosmos.
Eric knew that Godric was contemplating the end of his life. He was suspicious that after a hundred or so years of little contact that Godric had asked him to visit in Dallas, but he couldn't truly be sure of his intentions. Godric had shut the bond off between them for more than a century before his arrival in Dallas three nights ago. Eric was hurt, but knew better than to question Godric's closing himself off. In truth, he suspected that Godric was just tired, and Eric could certainly understand. He had a vampire for more than a thousand years, and there were moments when he had lost sight of what he wanted in life. He had surrounded himself with blood bags that meant nothing to him, and his nights were mostly spent balls deep in a fang banger he had picked up at his bar. Only his child stayed around to amuse him, and for him that was enough to keep going. Eric hadn't contemplated taking his life for 300 years now, simply because he had too much fun living the good life to give into the temptation. Sure he was lonely, but who wasn't? If the feeling ever got to be too much for him, Eric would simply try even harder to ignore that the melancholy of old age was getting to him, and eventually forget about it. It wasn't the perfect system, but it worked for Eric. The same couldn't be said for Godric.
Eric was even more surprised at how calm he was being about Godric's choice. It killed him, literally ripped his soul apart to think of a life without his maker. The only reason he hadn't lost hope was because he was convinced he could make Godric see the beauty in life, and keep him from dying. He knew that he could show him happiness, and he was going to do anything he could to make that happen. Eric had tried countless tricks to bring Godric out of his depression while he was in Dallas, he had even had sex with Godric – something he had not expected to happen. He loved Godric in many ways and would never be a stranger to his bedroom, but Eric thought that that phase of their relationship was over. However, he was willing to do what it took to show Godric he loved him and when the right moment occurred, the rest came naturally.
Eric was getting desperate after only two days in Dallas. It was getting harder and harder to play along with the charade and pretend that he knew nothing of his makers distress. Finally, out of left field, he suggested The Skyline. It didn't take much to convince Godric to go, and Eric was happy when they walked through the door to find Lola. Lola was exactly what Eric thought Godric needed. She was beautiful in her own way and even Eric was struck by her looks. The two of them had slept with many women, but neither of them could say that they had been with someone like Lola and that made Eric hopeful. As the three of them stood in silence on the rooftop, Eric felt the connection between his maker and the new girl in their life and he prayed to his gods that Lola would help his maker see that there was more to life than he realized.
Lola was happy for the silence on that rooftop. She loved this spot in the city, and was glad that her two guests had found their own little corners of the roof to enjoy as well. Lola was not the type for sappy romance stories, or even happy endings but she couldn't help but be excited for whatever future lay in front of her – especially if it included Eric and Godric. Eric, well he was just damn handsome and there wasn't anything wrong with enjoying that right? But Godric, she felt connected to Godric in a "kindred spirits" kind of way. When she looked into his eyes, she saw a storm of emotions and she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't as happy as he looked. She wouldn't just assume that he was as suicidal as she was once was, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he was thinking of the end as he looked out at the city. Whatever his story, she hoped he would tell it to her.
Lola had no idea how much time the three of them had spent on the roof. She knew that the moment had come for them to leave though, and she cleared her throat to get their attention before walking to the door that would lead them back into the building. Eric followed behind her, but Godric stood a little longer before pulling away with a sad smile on his lips. Lola smiled back because she understood that look, and the pull to stay on the roof, but if she was going to get to know these guys it was best that they head elsewhere.
Eric was torn, but eventually decided to speak up for the group. "Lola, maybe we could go back to your apartment to continue our evening – if that's alright with you?" Not used to being so kind or gentlemanly, Eric was stiff as he made his query. Lola looked from Eric to Godric and then back again. She shrugged as if to convince herself before answering. "I would love to have you over to my place."
The three of them were an interesting sight – a vampire playboy, his suicidal maker, and a strange looking girl with nothing to lose. At first, the short walk back to Lola's building was a silent one but Lola was never one for too much silence, so she butted into the thoughts of her gentlemen callers. "What is it that you're doing here Eric? I heard you were 'Sheriff of Area 5' – shouldn't you be there?" Lola had used air quotes around the title and it made both Godric and Eric chuckle. "Well if you must know, I'm here visiting Godric." Lola looked between the two of them "I figured as much.. what happens to your area while you're gone? And why are you two taking in the city when there's work to be done!" She knew she was prying, and would probably pay the consequences of being so rude, but she couldn't help but to take a jab or two at the odd company she had found.
"I have a lieutenant taking over my more mundane activities while I'm with Eric, and he has one filling in for him in Louisiana" Godric answered.
"Ah I see. Had I known the answer would be so simple I wouldn't have asked." Lola got to her front door and typed in the code.
Eric's phone went off and he stepped to the side to answer it, so Lola took the opportunity to get Godric to speak up more. She leaned over and whispered in his ear "I know that he's your child." It wasn't exactly the hardest information to find, but they certainly hadn't said anything themselves. Lola felt obligated to tell them though, after all she knew better than to hide things from vampires.
Godric just smirked and whispered back "Nothing gets past you then does it?" Eric quickly finished up his call and the three made their way to Lola's loft. Once inside Lola shucked off her shoes and jacket and went to the fridge. "I don't have any Tru Blood but something tells me you're ok with that." Both men laughed and Eric followed up with "The people who made it obviously have no taste buds!"
"So tell me more about you guys – why haven't you tried to glamor me yet? I'm surprised it's taken you this long" Lola knew she was once again stepping on some toes, but she felt safe enough and if they didn't like it they could leave right? "You may be surprised to know that not every vampire is lazy enough to glamor anyone and everyone to get what they want" Godric said as he vamped his way over the kitchen and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. The action was simple and sweet, yet it made Lola's skin tingle none the less.
Eric strode across the room to Lola's DVD collection and laughed at some of her choices. He grabbed one in particular and threw it across the room to Godric as he called "Up? Really? A 24 year old woman these days likes a children's animated movie?" The ancient brunette laughed but said nothing to elaborate. "Hey just for the record that movie is amazing! The love story is the best part!" Lola dashed back over and put her DVD back on the shelf.
As she turned around, she saw Godric staring at the one picture Lola had hanging on her wall of her mother Angela. She bit her lip and prayed that neither one of them would ask who she was, but obviously the cosmos were playing a cruel joke on her as Godric was the first to ask "This picture, the woman in it is your mother isn't she?"
"Yes, she is." Her voice came out quiet and broken, but both Eric and Godric heard her perfectly.
The two vampires shared a look and decided to drop the subject. Godric busied himself looking at all the other paintings and pictures that covered Lola's walls. Eric walked up to Lola as she stared off into the distance and gently rubbed her bare arm in comfort. For Eric it was a strange sensation, but for some reason he felt compelled to do what he could to comfort the young girl he had just met. Godric sensed his actions and smirked to himself, thinking that his plan was working after all.
Just as they had become comfortable in the silence Lola spun to face Eric and looked up into his ice blue eyes. She felt more brazen than usual and ran her fingers along his lapel, both of them refusing to break eye contact as her touch grazed his collar bone. It was an electric moment, and everyone felt the charge in the room.
Eric shivered just slightly as Lola's index finger brushed against Eric's adams apple and she smirked, loving the effect she was having on him. She knew that she had to end it before things went to far, so she dropped her hand and turned back to Godric.
"So, either of you squares ever smoke pot?' She walked over to her couch and plopped down. Eric was in shock, staring at Lola as if she was as alien to him as breathing had been the last thousand years.
Godric merely smirked. "Once. I was a member of a Gaulish tribe in the first century BCE. A group of us had come back from a fishing trip and found that one of the gatherers had picked a plant none of has had ever seen before." He paused as he recalled the details fondly and found both Eric and Lola looking at him, both equally enthralled with the look into his past.
"Not knowing what it was or what it could do to us, my father – the leader of our tribe – threw the bud into the fire, and of course the smoke was inhaled by us all. I was only a boy of about 13 or 14 but I remember that no one went to bed unhappy that night." Godric laughed "Everyone sang, and danced, and even though the world was harsh everyone had a smile on their face. I didn't know until much later that it was what you might consider marijuana. But to answer your question, no I have never truly 'smoked pot'." Godric walked over and took a seat on the couch, wondering what had possessed him to tell Lola the stories of his past; even Eric knew little of Godric's life before his turning. However, Godric found himself at peace around Lola – at least he was comfortable enough to tell a story or two.
By now Eric had snapped out of his trance, though his maker could sense he was slightly disturbed by the story. He plastered on his signature smirk and also took a seat on the couch. He looked at Lola, who was still lost in her mind's version of Godric's story, before he spoke up. "My people didn't know of the plant, and being in Sweden during my time it was really too cold for it to grow I suppose. We smoked herbs similar to what you might consider opium, though my father never allowed me to partake. After his death I was too busy running our village and going on long sea voyages to seek out the drug anyways." He ended with a shrug, though he too felt relieved to share a bit of his past.
Lola nodded and looked back and forth between the two of them. "Well I guess you guys will never get to experience the greatness that is." She stood up and walked into her room, returning with the small painted bowl she kept her stash in. The bowl had been a gift from her friend Jessica, a beautifully hand painted antique piece that they had found in Paris. Since the two had grown apart Lola couldn't bear to look at it or throw it away, so she used it simply to hide her drugs.
"You boys won't turn me in will you? Sheriffs?" She smiled as she pulled what she needed out of her bowl. The vampires both laughed. "No, neither of us will turn you into human authorities, and I might point out that just because we no longer are required to breathe does not mean we can't induldge does it?" Godric's brow rose as he asked, a smirked playing on his lips. He had shocked Lola, and Eric as well. They both knew that the drug would not affect them as it would her, but they would still feel a slight high.
"Fair enough" said Lola as she rolled her nightly blunt. She lit it, taking a long drag before handing it off to Godric who sat closest to her. Godric inhaled deeply and held his breath for a long time, passing it along to Eric. Lola leaned back and closed her eyes as she exhaled her toke and eventually Godric released the smoke in his lungs as well. Eric reluctantly took a pull from the joint with a pained expression on his face, but relaxed as he let the smoke out.
The three of them continued passing the joint to one another, laughing and feeling more relaxed by the second. Lola told them stories of her early youth, and Godric and Eric shared tales of their dalliances too. Soon enough Lola relaxed more and more, her eyes drooping heavily as Godric watched on and spoke of getting his first tattoo.
Soon enough Lola was asleep, and Godric once more found himself tucking some stray pieces of hair behind her ear. Eric turned to Godric with a confused look on his face. "Godric, she vexes me. One minute, she has me ready to pound her into oblivion, the next she has me smiling and telling stories of my childhood. What is this bullshit she's pulling?"
Godric laughed at his child's callused outlook on feelings.
"My child, she is not pulling any bullshit. You are entranced by her, as am I. She is a very interesting one wasn't she?"
"She is vexing." Eric nodded curtly and looked to Lola's sleeping form. It was getting close to dawn and he and his maker would have to leave her soon. Without realizing it, a smile formed on Eric's face as he picked Lola up in his arms and deposited her in her bed. Godric cleaned up the evidence of their evening and came in to Lola's bedroom, pulling the blanket over her still form. They both smiled and looked on as they heard her mumble their names in her sleep before they took off into the night.
Author's Note part deux:
Hope you guys find this story as interesting as I do, review and make sure to give me any suggestions or ideas as to where the story goes.