Disclaimer: The True Blood Characters in this belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Another Disclaimer: I've created fictional backgrounds to characters where the appropriate background is either lacking or currently unknown.
Chapter 14
Preston Hollow
It took all of five minutes to pack up her things. She didn't have that much, and since there had been no-where to unpack her clothes to begin with, they had mostly remained in the large suitcase.
Eric had departed her room a while back and after she finished the packing, Elliane decided to take a hot bath. She still felt stiff and chilled from her experience earlier that day, and the night had now become much cooler.
She locked the door and filled the marble spa up half-way, which was enough to completely immerse her body. Then she added a good amount of the Sandalwood fragranced bath foam she found in the cupboard under the sink. Allowing the heat of the water to soak into her aching limbs, she scrubbed at the remaining stain of her henna tattoo, and found the task of relaxing herself, unusually difficult.
She was nervous, she realised. Godric would be here soon and she was anxious that things might not have gone so well. She hoped he was able to accomplish the tricky task of removing her former 'existence' from the world of espionage.
She was nervous too of actually seeing Godric again. It was hard to believe that a mere three days had passed since she had allowed him to feed from her. She blushed as she remembered the event. How she could of found the experience so erotic she would never know. Since childhood she always had extreme reactions to the sight of blood - usually fainting dead away. Even the thought of blood made her feel dizzy. As she grew older, she had learned to control these reactions, but only by sheer will. The inclination had always remained.
The water started to cool and Elliane step out and quickly dressed. She wore her favourite pair of bootleg jeans, and a black, long-sleeved top. Since her converse sneakers had gone missing earlier in the day (from being dragged through the wilderness), she wore a sturdy pair of black boots.
Standing before the mirror she started to fuss with her damp hair. Should she blow dry it, she wondered and then wondered why she was fussing. It was the nerves… she had to keep herself occupied. Since her hair-dryer was already packed, she opted to let it dry naturally and turned her attention to her face.
She looked pretty good really. In fact, she acknowledged that she looked better right now than ever before. A side-effect of drinking vampire blood, no doubt and she decided to forego the use of makeup as well. She re-entered her bedroom, and soon felt claustrophobic in the space that she had spent most of her day and the entire afternoon. She paced around aimlessly in agitation for a while - before going out onto the landing nearby.
The night was clear with a nippy, fresh air. Elliane leaned against the balcony archway and looked up at the stars. Not as bright as they could have been. Their light was diminished by the glowing moon. She wondered how much longer it would be till Godric arrived. Would she see Godric walking down the driveway, she wondered?
Elli heard a familiar voice behind her and wondered no more.
"Wouldn't you be safer inside?" came the unmistakable husky mix of European accents.
Elliane spun around and Godric stepped out of the shadows towards her. The moonlight hit the angles of his face, giving him a chiselled haughty demeanour.
"Hello Godric," she replied, not knowing what else to say. The nerves kicked in and she felt instantly breathless.
"Come," he said taking her hand and a moment later - she was back in her room. Elliane breathed with the sudden transition and Godric closed the door behind them.
"Why were you outside, Elliane? I would have thought you would be more careful after your adventures today."
Elliane blinked at the irony. Was she being scolded by a vampire? She met his eyes and saw the stern furrow of his brow.
"It was only for a moment," she snapped back. "I've been cooped up in here pretty much the whole time since you've been gone."
He gazed back at her - his blue-green gold eyes calm and thoughtful.
"You prefer to be outdoors?"
Elliane nodded, taking a deep breath to relax. "Yes - I suppose I do. Though I don't mind being indoors, just not … well, all the time." She shrugged, feeling awkward now that she had been admonished for her careless behaviour. It was in her normal nature to exhibit a reasonable degree of common sense.
"I see you are packed and ready to go," his eyes flicked to the suitcase and bags by the door.
Elliane gave a nod. "Yes. But, I have much to tell you first. About the ring... about Petronella."
Godric smiled lightly. "You can tell me later Elliane. My priority is getting you settled somewhere safe."
Elliane nodded and now felt slightly irked. She was keen to tell him all that she had discovered from the ring, especially since the process had left some serious side-effects and considerable discomfort. But who was she to argue the matter. If he wished to wait, she would wait.
Godric picked up the briefcase and turned to Elli. "You will have to leave your other things behind for the time being. I will get them brought on later."
Elliane looked at her laptop case with a frown.
"Would you like to say goodbye to Pam?" he asked. "She is downstairs."
"Yes," she said and headed out the door. It seemed Godric was anxious to leave straight away. She walked quickly along the hall and down the stairs to the entry. Godric followed behind. As they entered - Pam also arrived to meet them, with that vampire blur of flurry from the lounge.
Elliane was please to see that Pam's appearance was greatly improved from earlier in the day.
"Pam," Elliane smiled to greet the beautiful blond vampire. "Godric wishes to leave very soon. I want to thank you for taking care of me, while I have been here… and for saving my life."
Pam placed a hand on her hip and smirked suggestively. "Anytime, sugar. It's been a real pleasure."
Elliane nodded, feeling strangely awkward. A part of her was inclined to give Pam a hug but she decided against it. "Maybe… I shall see you again some time."
"I'll look forward to it," said Pam.
Elli smiled, not really sure if Pam was being sarcastic. It was hard to tell with Pam, but it seemed genuine. "Please thank Eric for allowing me the use of his home."
Pam nodded.
"Are you ready Elliane?" Godric asked.
"Yes."
Godric handed Elli the briefcase and asked her to hold it firmly to her chest. He then stepped closely to her - wrapping an arm about her back.
"Close your eyes…" he said softly.
Elliane did as he bid and felt a strange shift in the air around her. She kept her eyes closed for a moment before opening them to a dizzy array of spinning lights and incredible vertigo. Her stomach went queasy.
They stopped suddenly. Elliane was on the side of a lone highway, hovering about a half-a-foot high in the air. They were in the middle of no-where. No-where that Elliane could recognise. Godric, his arm still wrapped about her back, was looking at her with a grin.
"You must keep them closed Elli. We will be there soon." Her pale face nodded and she closed her eyes again. This time Godric put both his arms around her and pulled her closer.
The air once again twisted strangely. Elliane kept her eyes closed for a few short minutes and then, the sensation ended as her feet touched the ground.
"We are here," Godric announced.
Elli looked around as she regained her balance. She was standing about sixty yards away from the impressive entrance of a large three story home. It was more like a small mansion, really. It was built along the lines of the famous Richardsonian Romanesque architecture of the late twentieth century, but with a cleaner modern flow. Situated on a stony hilltop, the long paved driveway led down and away. Elli could see what looked like an 'art-nouveau' styled iron security gate at the end, some two hundred yards away, where the driveway became the road.
Turning back to the mansion, a circular drive surrounded the gardens at the front of the property, where the granite formed a carved colonnaded portico, which jutted from the entrance to protect passengers from the elements as they exited their vehicles.
"Wow…" Elliane murmured. The building had definitely impressed her. Her gaze took in the tall trees that shadowed the landscaped gardens - faintly visible in the moonlight.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Dallas," Godric replied.
"Dallas…" Elliane repeated the word. She seemed stunned. "Did we fly here?"
Godric smiled. "Not exactly..." She looked puzzled and he continued. "I can move quite fast."
She nodded, awed at very thought of a super-speed that could be so well harnessed.
"It takes a considerable amount of my energy and cannot be maintained for too long," he continued. "And…" he paused. "I'm always very hungry afterwards." His gaze slanted towards her and she noticed a strange gleam enter his eyes. Elli's heart started pounding and she quickly looked away.
"This is a beautiful home," she said, suddenly eager to change the subject. Godric eyed her silently a moment before he replied.
"I am glad you think so. I purchased the land here about sixty years ago, just as the area started to become popular."
Elliane nodded and listened.
"The building of the house was started nearly ten years ago. There were complications however with elements the property and it ended up taking five years to finish."
"Well, it looks like it was worth the wait." Elliane gave a small smile.
As Elliane was herself a local of Dallas since the age of thirteen, she figured the current probable location to be somewhere in Preston Hollow, a town of prestigious estates on the north-side of Dallas.
Godric chuckled softly at her comment. "I hope so. I must warn you that there is still some decorating to be finished. I have not in fact lived here - before now."
Elliane looked back to him curiously.
"Up until a week or so ago, I resided in a smaller property closer to town, until it was bombed by a terrorist from the Fellowship of the Sun."
Elliane caught her breath. She knew of the incident.
It occurred just before she left Dallas to go to Shreveport. She had seen the story in the Texas Observer, 'Suicide Cult Bomber Sabotages Undead Dinner Party' the headline had read. Several vampires had died in the attack, including the human who had been the bomber.
It went silent and only the slight hush of running water could be heard. Elliane eyed the impassive face of Godric. She was certain that he hiding his distress beneath the surface. She laid her hand against his lower arm.
"Godric, I am so sorry. I hate that organisation… I…" she fell silent.
She was about to explain the nature of her involvement with the group when she remembered that Godric probably already knew of it. He had found her there… almost dead, saving her life… as Eric had said. But why was Godric at the 'Institute of Light' compound to begin with. Had their attack on his home been in the pursuit of revenge?
A light flickered on in the front section of the house and the exterior also lit up in a gentle array of feature lights that revealed the amber beauty of the carved granite mansion.
The door opened and a silhouette of a tall and slender, female figure appeared. Lights in the gardens then popped on to reveal a lush park-land of splendour by night. The stone driveway was now presented in a gentle and diffused ambience. Everything looked surreal.
Elliane took a breath at the surrounding beauty
"Come," Godric said to Elliane, tucking her arm into his. "You must meet Isabel."
With her briefcase in the other hand, Elliane walked with trepidation towards the imposing house. She knew little of this Isabel, being unable to recall any information she may have read from agency files. As they approached the colonnaded portico, the sounds of water increased and she saw a fountain at the centre of the gardens. A statue of a winged lion gently sprouted water from its mouth into a deep pond.
They walked across the double-drive portico and up the wide entrance stairs to the twin door entry where an attractive woman dressed in black leather met them.
"Isabel, this is Elliane," said Godric simply.
Elliane looked at Isabel and did her best to push down the feeling of intimidation. Isabel had a face of classic beauty, with large black eyes and raven hair that was swept back into an elegant chignon.
Isabel's gaze landed on Godric first. "It is good to see you Sheriff," she nodded respectfully before turning her attention to Elliane. "And, it is a pleasure to meet you Elliane," the slight Spanish of her accent could now be heard and she gave Elliane a brief smile.
"Welcome to your new home," she continued and she moved so that Elliane and Godric could enter.
The first notable feature of the sprawling entry hall was the row of chandeliers that hung from the vaulted ceilings. Next were the two magnificent, marble staircases at opposite sides of the hall, each mirroring the other in a wide curve that led to the second story of the home.
"Be mindful of the floors," said Isabel as Elliane stepped inside. "They have just been polished."
"We should give Elliane a tour," spoke Godric's calm voice and Isabel nodded.
The first floor contained the main living areas and was designed in view of entertaining large groups of people. The entry led on to an expansive lounge and bar area. Restrooms were situated towards the middle of the home and a large kitchen was tucked away near a formal dining room, which could easily sit thirty guests. Although it currently had no dining furniture.
Beautifully appointed sitting rooms led onto a large library, where the empty shelves, awaited books that were still packed in boxes nearby on the floor.
Isabel apologised for the state of disarray and explained that there were delays in getting some final rewiring done. They were waiting on decorators to arrive next week.
Elliane blushed at the apology since the house seemed quite organised, given the circumstances, and it was certainly very liveable. All the essentials were there. The lounge was nicely outfitted with lush leather seats and beautiful potted fig trees, which led to a theatre room where movies could be watched on a wall sized plasma screen.
The second story contained mostly bedrooms. There were eight in total, two of which were entire bedroom suites. And one of these had been put aside for Elliane's personal use. Isabel led Elliane into the suite that was sumptuously furnished. It contained a large bedroom with a antique carved, four posted bed and a fireplace. Included was a spacious bathroom, a sitting room and a private study.
It was clear these rooms had the most recent attention in preparation for her arrival. Ornate wooden panelling lined the walls, and sections had been rendered in soft gold paintwork. The ceiling had moulded paster features reminiscent of the 1920's. To her surprise, when she entered the study she saw a familiar shape which was artfully leaning against the wall beside the desk.
It was an old guitar. Looking somewhat beaten about with peeling lacquer and an assortment of stickers on it, Elliane paused before it… her face arrested at the sight of the object.
"This was in the things that Godric sent over, from the condo you shared with your former boss," said Isabel in a matter of fact tone. "I assumed you had kept it for sentimental value."
"Yes," Elliane nodded. She noted that both vampires were peering at her intently, aware of her sudden change of emotion. Elliane had figured that all her old things would be tossed out and she never thought to be lucky enough to see the guitar again.
"It was my sisters…" she continued with a crack in her voice. "She used to travel around with it."
But that was long time ago now. Years ago. It was before her sister got mixed up with the wrong sort of crowd. Before she squandered the small family inheritance, and before she left Elliane alone. A child almost - to defend for herself.
Elliane's eyes snapped to Isabel.
"Thank you for organising these beautiful rooms for me. I hope you didn't go to too much trouble."
"We hope that you will be happy here, Elliane," Isabel replied evenly.
"Shall we continue the tour?" said Godric offering an arm to Elliane.
She nodded and they went upstairs to the top level of the house. The whole upper floor was a series of non-descript rooms at this stage that had no furniture or décor. Walls here were still in need of a primer coat and some of doors had yet to be affixed. The bathrooms too, needed final fixtures before they could be used.
"These rooms will be used by guests who are here on extended visits," Isabel commented in her Spanish accent. "Some of our guests bring an entourage of several other people along with them. They will occupy these suites and have the floor for their own use."
Elliane just nodded.
Godric then led the group back down to ground floor and to the back of the house, where the theatre room and kitchen were. They entered a small room, set discretely to one side, which contained a set of spiral stairs that led down.
"The basement levels and car parking spaces are below," said Godric, before he descended and was followed by the two female figures.
After what felt like a staggering three flights of twisting stairs, Elliane entered another small room, much the same size as the one above. This one though, had a long corridor with a door at the end, which led off to her right, and a key-coded security door was nearby to the left.
Godric opened the key-coded door to reveal a large underground garage. Three of the parking spaces were already occupied. There was a large black Bentley, which reminded Elliane of something the mob used, a blue Lamborghini and a silver Mustang.
"Wow, nice," said Elliane and she eyed off the Mustang with a smile. Then she saw that the number plate… which said 'Elli' and she gasped.
"Oh no…" she looked back to Godric and Isabel and then pointed at the Mustang.
"Your favourite vehicle according to George," said Godric watching her reaction carefully.
"You shouldn't have." Elliane was already quite overwhelmed at the efforts Godric and Isabel were making on her behalf. Godric was certainly investing his interest in her, in a big way. It unnerved her in one sense yet made her feel valued in another. She felt tears prick at her eyes.
Seeing the vehicle had given her an increased sense of security. Thankful, she wasn't expected to remain locked in this mansion for the rest of her days. Elliane didn't however want Godric to be spending large amounts of money on her.
She took a deep breath. On a more comfortable note was the knowledge that she could, in fact, pay him back for its purchase. As soon as it was clear she could access some of her funds.
"Thank you Godric," she said and she caught him off guard when she suddenly hugged him. She hugged Isabel too, much to that vampire's surprise and Isabel chuckled.
"Sheriff, I think I am going to get along very well with your companion," said Isabel as she drew herself away from Elliane.
"I said that you would like her," Godric replied with a smile. Godric then move them along the long corridor and turned back to Elliane.
"These rooms are all high security. The walls here are sound-proof and bomb-proof."
They passed three more key-coded doors which Godric explained were sleeping quarters for himself and Isabel. There remaining one would soon be occupied with another lieutenant. The door at the end of the corridor was not a key coded entry. It instead had a number of strong bolts. Godric opened it up to expose a large, dark chamber that was faintly lit by a number of dim lights.
"This is where we will house those who break the law until we pass them onto the magistrate." Godric entered into the dark room, and his voice started to echo from the concrete walls.
Elliane lingered for a moment by the door, quickly giving it the look over. There were no other exits from the room, from what she could see, so she was hesitant about going in.
"It would also be a good place of refuge, should we come under attack," Godric continued and he disappeared into the darkness.
Elliane then entered and walked slowly to the centre. The low lighting made her cautious of where she placed her steps.
"It certainly looks secure," she stated politely.
"It should be. The walls, ceiling and floor are almost a yard thick, and re-enforced with steel." Godric's voice came from somewhere ahead.
Elliane moved towards the edge of the room where she could see something gleaming. It was a long heavy chain. Probably, the heaviest chain that Elliane had even seen. Too heavy for her to lift with her puny 'human' strength. It was attached to the wall on one end and the other housed a steel manacle. Elliane heaved a breath. The room gave her the creeps. This was one place she would be sure to avoid.
"Everything alright?" came Godric's soft accented voice. He had appeared beside her.
"You chain people up?" she asked bluntly.
"Sometimes it is necessary," he replied calmly. "It is for those who commit violent crimes."
Godric could see the uneasy look on Elliane's face and he reached for her hand.
"Did you think I would lock you up down here?" a teasing smile crossed his face.
"Uh... N-No…" she stammered indignantly, her heart beating at the claustrophobic thought, "I would be extremely upset if you did.
A soft chuckle was heard through out the room.
"Your new pet, Godric - Does not sound very entertaining," said a familiar voice.
It was Eric. Elliane immediately frowned. What was Eric doing here?
