A/N: Yes, feel free to kill me since I haven't updated in 3 months. But I'm glad I didn't end the last chapter on a cliff hanger. Now that we've finally got season four of the show under our belts I'm thinking I can try to start bringing some things into the show, but I'm not a hundred percent on that. And also, Leo was able to drink whiskey because the blood in his system absorbed it. In my story, vampires can drink liquor because a lot of times the blood they get has liquor included.
Also, the last chapter says its chapter 20 but that was a typo. It's actually chapter 21. Now, I want to do something a bit different. This chapter will also be purely informational, by the way. How do you guys feel about a question at the beginning of each chapter? Well, we'll start now:
Would the High Council's motives for Galen be bad or benign?
Chapter Song: Undisclosed Desires by Muse
Chapter 22: Wicked and Devine
The Queen of Delaware had moved the Royal Ball back a week, which Galen had been thankful for. It gave her a lot of time to continue convincing Godric not to go. Leo thought it was rather amusing that Galen didn't want to go, but said he didn't blame her.
"I think we need to find out more about me being a phoenix. There has to be some information somewhere. I mean, do I get to turn into a big, sexy, red bird like the one on Harry Potter? Do my eyes get to change colors?" Galen said, her voice flat and bored.
Godric looked over at her from the book he was reading. Leo had flown all the way to Rome to get it for him. It was a large, leathery book that spit out a bit of dust every time Godric turned a page in it. "Well," he said. "There's nothing in here at all about you becoming an avian figure but I have not seen anything on your eyes changing colors yet."
Galen let out an impatient puff of breath and ran a hand through her hair. "Well, what's in there then? Leo wouldn't have to gone to Rome to get this book if it wasn't important. So, what's in there?"
All that could be heard for almost ten minutes was the sound of the ancient, yellowed, dusty pages being turned and Godric's occasional mumbling. Galen stared at Godric, waiting for him to say something.
"It says here that you are a Child of the Sun, which we know already," he said. He smirked a bit upon seeing Galen roll her eyes at that statement. "It also says that a phoenix is the guardian of all things good and light in the world. Their enemy is the night and its inhabitants and vice versa."
Godric had Galen's attention now. She got up from the stool she was sitting on and curled up next to Godric so she could read what he was reading. He resumed speaking.
"Spilling blood from a phoenix can be very dangerous since its blood has a toxic effect. If a vampire, or any other creature (save for human) was to ingest the blood of a phoenix they would burn from the inside out, starting with their veins. It is not illegal to have an intimate relationship between a phoenix and a creature of the night. It is, however, illegal to feed or draw blood from a phoenix, an offense punishable by death."
Godric sighed as he put the book down. He looked over at Galen to see how she was taking what he said. She closed her eyes for a time before opening them again.
"Keep reading," she said.
"Phoenixes cannot die unless they pass their power on to someone else, man or woman, or unless they make a sacrifice to save a life, in which case, the power of the previous phoenix passes on to the person saved." Godric read aloud.
"A phoenix's true power can be triggered by strong emotions such as intense anger, sadness, fear, lust, and happiness. Their eyes can change from their normal color to a bright amber color. Their skin becomes very hot, their hair may brighten to a scarlet color, and (in rare cases) they may emit a faint, golden glow."
Galen sighed. "That explains a lot. My hair seemed to be getting redder and redder but I thought maybe it was just me. "
Godric closed the book and pulled Galen close so that she was almost straddling him. "My dear, you have been a human, a vampire, and now a phoenix in your very short life." Galen smiled slightly at this before looking up at him.
"At least I have something important to tell my kids." She mumbled.
Godric immediately tensed up at those words and Galen gave him a questioning look. "I didn't say it, but the book says that phoenixes…cannot reproduce." He watched as his words had the effect he knew they would.
Galen immediately stood up and brushed stinging tears from her eyes. "Thank you for neglecting that tiny little fact." She glared angrily at Godric and left the library. He heard her sobs as she progressed further away and it broke his heart.
If there was one thing in the world Godric was certain of, it was that he wanted to spend the rest of his existence with Galen, no matter how long it would be. He wanted to give her the world and everything in it but to realize that he could never give her the one thing she would want most, children, hurt. To realize that even he, a two thousand year old vampire, couldn't even give her children was a blow to his ego to be honest.
They could adopt children, of course, but it wouldn't be the same. They would never truly be Galen's children. He planted his face in his hands as he continued to listen to Galen's cries. He should have been comforting her, telling her everything would work itself out, but this was not one of those situations that could easily be fixed.
"I am presuming she found out all of what being a phoenix entails." Leo's voice floated to Godric, pulling his face out of his hands. Leo was leaning against the doorway to the library absently sipping a glass of whiskey.
Godric's eyes flickered away from him for a moment before he answered, "Yes, she did." He stood up and made to leave but Leo stopped him.
"Give her a few minutes. Let it sink in for her. She needs to be alone for a bit." He said wisely. Godric nodded and left the library.
He walked down the endless halls of the estate until he came to the room he and Galen shared. An odd smell passed through his nose and he opened the door. He was greeted with the sight of several black marks on the wall. It smelled like Galen had burned something. His eyes went to the sad figure sitting on the bed as she summoned another fireball in her hand.
"Galen, please stop." Godric said softly.
Her now amber eyes flickered over to him and she rolled her eyes. "Yes, because I will actually listen to you right now." She ignored Godric and hurled the fireball at the wall. It was extinguished upon impact.
"I am sorry I did not tell you about this. But even with me, whether you are able to have children or not, you still wouldn't be able to with me. I am a vampire, so your chances were already marked short." Godric replied, his voice now agitated.
The newest fireball evaporated into smoke inside of Galen's palm and she got up from the bed. "Are you serious right now? Godric, this isn't about me not being able to have kids with you. This is about me not being able to have kids ever with anyone, whether it's you or someone else."
Godric's eyes narrowed. "So, what you are saying is that if you could have children, you would leave me to do it?" His voice had risen now to a dangerous height but Galen's went higher with what she said next.
"GLADLY!" she screeched out as she hurled a fireball that missed Godric by mere millimeters. The room was silent except for the obnoxiously loud beating of Galen's own heart. She couldn't believe what she'd said to Godric but she knew deep down it was true.
Godric stared at her with pain and hurt in his eyes. "You mean that?"
She closed her eyes, imagining little hers running around, laughing and playing. She imagined the father of the little hers around and found that she could not imagine another except Godric. But he could not give her the family she so desperately wanted.
You don't need to have children to have a family, her inner voice said, echoing through her head. You have Leo, Godric, Isabel, even Eric. Be grateful for what you have, not what you desire.
"No, Godric. I don't mean that." She muttered as she turned away from him. "I didn't mean any of it."
Godric swallowed quietly. "You obviously thought it, though, which is just as bad. Galen, you know that if I could give you children I would give you so many, you would bar me from your bed. I've realized now that I cannot give you everything in the way you would like me to, and for that I am sorry."
He turned to leave but felt Galen's warm hand on his cold arm. "No, I'm sorry. This isn't your fault, Godric. None of this is. You don't deserve me treating you like a spoiled little bitch all the time. You're a good man and you deserve better than me." Her voice was hoarse with unshed tears.
Godric, hearing the implement she was making, turned around and pulled her to him, holding her tightly. He kissed her hair and let her cry into his shirt as he moved them to their bed. He pulled back the blankets and they slid underneath them, Galen still sobbing.
"I may not deserve you treating me the way you do sometimes, but it is part of what makes me love you more and more every single day, Galen. I am here with you for better or for worse."
A/N: Well? I know its not what you guys wanted but due to my busy, busy schedule I wanted to at least put something out for you guys while I had the time. Thanksgiving break is coming up and then Christmas break so maybe you I'll have out some more chapters. Thank you guys for sticking with me School has been so depressing lately and writing this has been a therapy of sorts for me. I'll try to work on some more chapters before adding them that way I can just add and you guys won't have to wait so long. Love always, opalheart12.
Until next time…