Chapter Six:

"You don't have to stay, you know." I curled my legs underneath me as I gazed at the vampire sitting in my bright purple desk chair. It almost made me giggle. Almost that is. If it hadn't of been for whatever was happening inside of me, maybe I would have laughed at the sight of a two thousand year old vampire sitting in a very girly chair. But whatever was happening, whatever this power, this raw energy was, it just wouldn't leave me be. It surged through me, cursed through my veins. My heart was racing rapidly, and if it didn't slow down soon, I was going to get worried that I would have a heart attack. My breathing was unsteady, and every few minutes I would have to close my eyes and focus on my breathing. I felt light headed, the exhaustion rolling over me.

But I didn't want to fall asleep. It wasn't because there was a vampire in my apartment and I refused to rescind his invitation. He wasn't dangerous; at least he didn't seem all that dangerous at the moment. For some reason, I wanted to talk to him, to spend time with him. He had already refused to leave, which I couldn't understand. He didn't even know me. I was just some human girl who walked right into him and then had been rather rude. He had humoured me by letting me buy him a drink as a sort of apology, though he had paid for the drinks which completely destroyed the concept. He could have just walked away when I nearly collapsed in the hallway. Most vampires would have. Hell, most men would have done the same thing. You don't just help out someone you barely know, someone you met only hours ago.

So then why was he here?

And why did I not want him to leave?

"You may rescind my invitation at any time." Godric pointed out, his hands clasped together in his lap as he just sat there, staring at me curiously.

"Why would I do that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm a vampire."

"Well you haven't tried to eat me yet so I think I'm safe." I shrugged.

"Perhaps I was only waiting for the right moment." He leaned forward.

"Is that true?" I didn't believe him for one bit. There was just something in his eyes, behind that sadness, that told me he wouldn't bite me, that he wouldn't try and kill me.

Godric didn't answer at first. He merely stared at me for the longest time, not even blinking. It was unnerving and I started fidgeting on the bed.

"Am I making you nervous?" he asked in a soft voice. "If you're uncomfortable, I will leave."

"No." I shook my head. "I'm not uncomfortable around you, Godric. I just don't understand why you're trying to make me believe that you're some scary monster. You don't seem all that scary to me."

"I was once." A short sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back in the chair, his eyes closing for a brief moment as he lost himself in his own memories. "I wouldn't have hesitated to kill you once."

"So what's stopping you now?" I wondered.

"I've roamed this earth for two thousand years. My life has become very monotonous. I came to see that we're not very much unlike humans. I saw less of a reason to attack them, to harm them in any way just for pleasure." He answered, pain crossing his face as his eyes opened, those sea coloured orbs boring into me. "I lost my desire to hunt for humans long ago. I wish for peace, the peace that I once thought the Great Revelation would have given us. But it seems I was wrong."

"What do you mean?" my eyebrows furrowed.

"Humans fear us, and they have reason to. We are monsters. We may try to be like them, but while we may share similarities, we will never be them. Most vampires lose their humanity and they are too stuck in their ways to find their way back."

"You seem to still have your humanity." I pointed out. "You care. That's not something a monster would do. I think you're the only vampire who would have helped me tonight. You're sitting with someone you don't even know because you think it's the right thing to do. You may have been one way years ago, Godric, but you're not a monster now. At least not at this very moment."

"I fought to find my humanity again." he stared down at his lap sadly. "I was a savage, a vampire that I am ashamed to admit that I was."

"But you're righting that wrong now." I shrugged. "We all have scary pasts, Godric. It's a part of life. We all have skeletons in the closet; some just are bigger than others."

Godric looked up in confusion, his head tilted to the side. "I don't have a skeleton in my closet. That would be barbaric."

I couldn't help but laugh. That only caused Godric to stare at me in even more confusion. In the few hours we've spent together, it was hard to believe that this vampire, who only appeared my age, if not younger, was actually two thousand years old. He was older than just about everything. And yet, with that one little comment, I was reminded of his age.

"It appears as if I have missed a human joke."

"Sorry." I tried to calm myself down, a grin on my face. "I forgot that you're two thousand years old. It's just a saying. No one really has skeletons in their closets." I snorted, shaking my head at the vampire. "I only meant that we all have mistakes and moments in our past that we wished we could take back."

He nodded in understanding, and even looked amused at my reaction. "In that case, I have many skeletons in my closet, as you would say."

"I have a few myself." I offered him a smile, forgetting momentarily that I had surges of power rushing throughout me. Actually, as I stopped to think about it, I realized that my body had stopped shaking, my temperature rising to a comfortable level. I could still feel the power inside of me, like it was just resting there waiting for a moment to burst free. But it was no longer attacking me, no longer ripping me apart. I sighed in relief, leaning back against my pillows out of happiness. I wasn't sure what the hell this was, but I was glad I was being given a moment's grace.

"Are you alright?" Godric stood, a look of concern crossing his face. This vampire was worried about being a monster, and yet he was concerned over some silly little human that he only met tonight. That hardly described a monster.

"I'm fine." I assured me. "I'm actually really fine."

"I'm glad." He nodded, walking across the room and after a moment of hesitance, he sat on the edge of my bed.

"See Godric, you're worried about some human you've only just met. How could you possibly be a monster?" I smiled at him.

He frowned as he looked away and that caused me to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Why are you still here, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked curiously. "Is it just because you're trying to be a nice guy or..."

"You're an intriguing puzzle, Savannah." His voice was soft as he spoke. "I've never met a human quite like you before. You apologize when you have no reason to. You are kind to me, a monster when most would run away screaming. You were afraid of insulting me earlier when you only voiced a reaction that is typical for humans. And now...now when I sit here near you, I can feel this great amount of...of..."

"Of power?" I asked barely even above a whisper.

"Yes." He turned to look me in the eye, curiosity wrapped in those sea coloured orbs. "I cannot explain it. I feel...I feel more alive than I ever have in my two thousand years of existence. It's a feeling that I once hoped I could feel again, but thought all hope had been lost."

"I can feel it too." I admitted. "When I told you earlier that I didn't know what was happening to me, I wasn't lying. It wasn't like I was just suddenly sick. I felt...I felt this power just surge through me to the point that I couldn't handle it. It felt almost like someone had dumped a bucket full of boiling water over me, only to feel like I was dunked into a tub of ice cold water the next minute." I shuddered as I remembered the feeling, glad that whatever was going on inside of me that it had calmed down for the time being. "It felt like an adrenaline rush, only ten times worse. And yet at the same time, it felt better than that. It felt like someone was ripping apart my insides, and yet there was this small spark of..."

"Of warmth." His frown deepened. "Yes I felt it as well. Not to the degree that you must have, but even now, I still feel that power rolling through me, an energy that I have never felt before in my long life."

"So I guess you don't know what this all is either then huh?"

"I have my theories, but none that could be possible." he shook his head.

"I've felt it before." I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them and laying my chin on my knees. "It was with another vampire. We had...well we had kissed and..."

"And you felt this way?"

"Not entirely. I felt the power, I felt the raw energy. But it never felt like this, not until tonight." I chewed on my bottom lip as I watched Godric closely. "It feels better now, like it's calmed down, like the beast just went to sleep or something."

"That's a very...interesting way to describe it."

"I have a way with words." I chuckled softly. "So you honestly couldn't tell me what this is?"

"I cannot, I'm afraid." He offered a small apologetic smile.

"Well it's at least nice to know that someone else can feel this and that I'm not going completely insane." I sighed, tugging at the ends of my hair. "You can leave now, if you wanted to. I think I'll be alright for the night."

"Is that you're way of rescinding my invitation?"

"No." I shook my head. "If I did that, it would make you think I was afraid of you, that I didn't trust you. And I'm not afraid of you. I do trust you."

"As you have said, we barely know one another." Godric pointed out just as I had moments ago.

"Honestly, after the Christmas break I had back at home, I thought I would have been afraid of you. I hadn't had the best experience with vampires. But..." I searched for the words. "But I just have this feeling with you, that you're different than all the rest. And I can see that. Why be afraid of someone who seems to care about my well being? You hardly know me as well, Godric, and yet you're here."

"Perhaps we should get to know one another better, then we can make our rightful judgements." He suggested, a small spark in his striking eyes. I had never seen eyes like his before. In some lights, they appeared to be a light blue, almost matching mine with flecks of grey. But in other lights, his orbs appeared such a vibrant green. They were beautiful; there was no doubt about that.

I didn't even need to think about his suggestion. I should have been afraid. I had fled Shreveport because of Eric, because of vampires in general. And now I wanted to befriend this one. But Godric was different than every other vampire I had seen in Fangtasia. He was the complete opposite of even Eric. So yes, he may have been some savage, some terrible monster back in the day, but he was a kind gentleman at the moment, and that was the Godric that I wanted to know, that I felt the desire to spend time with.

"Perhaps we should." I sent him a genuine smile before a long yawn sounded from my lips. I blushed as I shook my hair out, letting it shield my reddening cheeks. "Sorry."

"Always apologizing." A chuckle emitted from the vampire, sounding like music to my ears. That thought caused me to blush even more. I tensed at first, as Godric raised his hand and tucked my locks of hair back behind my ear, the backs of his fingers caressing my cheek. "You are the most intriguing human I've ever had the honour of meeting."

"I'm not all that intriguing." I shrugged.

"You are." He smiled. And it was a true smile, one that reached those eyes of his and caused me to smile in return. He had a beautiful smile, one that was contagious. I could tell that he didn't smile much, or at least, not one a genuine as right now. I felt touched that I had caused the vampire to truly smile, to find that small spark of happiness. If I had made him believe just a little bit that he wasn't the monster he claimed to me, well then that made me happy. Because it pained me, in some unusual way that I couldn't even fully explain, to know that he felt ashamed of who he was because of his past mistakes. He was here right now, taking care of some human girl. He was the furthest thing from a monster that you could possible get. "You are tired though; I'll leave you to rest."

"Don't go." I shook my head. "I'm fine. I'm awake, see."

His smile widened. "You're exhausted. Whatever this power may be, it has taken a toll on you and you need to rest."

"But I..." I trailed off, biting my bottom lip, unsure how I could tell him I didn't want him to go.

"I'll return tomorrow evening, if you'd like." He offered. "I won't outstay my welcome, but I would...I would genuinely enjoy getting to know you, Savannah Kingsley."

"I would like that." I nodded, sighing in relief that this wouldn't be the only meeting Godric and I would have. "Maybe I can have a do over. This first impression sucked."

"It was a perfect first impression." He assured as he stood from the bed. "Rest, Savannah. I will see you again tomorrow."

"I can't wait." I retorted honestly. I thought about what I wanted to say next, to thank him for all that he's done for me tonight, but before I could, a gust of wind pushed my hair back, and just like that the vampire had gone. My eyes grew wide as I looked around the room, as if he would just be hiding in a corner. I even listened carefully, wondering if he was still in the apartment. But after a moment, I couldn't hear a single thing and realized that he had gone.

But not for good. He would return tomorrow night, and I found that I couldn't wait for that second meeting. There was just something about Godric, something about that vampire that caused an odd warmth to spread throughout my entire being, battling against the power that still laid there dormant.

"Got rid of one vampire and gained a new one." I mumbled to myself as I settled against my pillows, my eyes closing as a smile crossed my lips. "At least this one doesn't want to get in my pants."

"Why are there so many different choices? Blood's blood." I muttered to myself as I ran a hand through my hair and stared down at the many different varieties of True Blood there were. After I had failed to actually buy Godric a drink last night in apology, I thought it would be right to at least make sure I had True Blood for when he came over tonight. That was the polite thing to do. It wasn't like I could offer him anything else. Besides myself, but I honestly doubted wither Godric or I would exactly be okay with that. I thought I would just pop by the grocery store on my way home from class and pick up a case for tonight. I never expected there to be different...flavours? Which would Godric like, what blood type did he prefer?

I let out a sigh and finally just reached into the large fridge and grabbed a variety six pack, hoping at least one of them Godric would like. I found it almost amusing that the True Blood was stocked beside the milk. It just made it seem so...ordinary. But shopping for blood, even if it was synthetic blood, was the least ordinary thing you could possibly do. But it would be worth it when I saw Godric tonight. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him all day. For the first time in three and a half years, I hardly took a single note while in my classes. My thoughts were solely focused on that kind, gentle vampire that I had met last night. I was both excited and nervous about tonight. I was excited to get to know more about him, to spend time with him, but I felt nervous about the whole thing. It wasn't because he was a vampire. I had already told him last night that he didn't scare me, that I wasn't uncomfortable around him. Instead, I was nervous about how I felt, about how much I wanted to see him again. I had felt this way with Eric too, and that's what worried me. Eric may have been the complete opposite, but I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him either. I hadn't been able to stay away, even if I did try to. And now I felt the same way with Godric.

"Is that all Miss?" I hadn't realized I had made my way up to the cash register until the woman's voice broke my thoughts. I blinked and focused my gaze on the older woman who was eying the six pack of blood I was holding. I nodded, ignoring her judgemental gaze, and set my purchase on the counter. The Cashier was cold and rude until I was out of the door, and while it bothered me a bit that someone could be so judgemental, I didn't let it get to me. If she wanted to judge me, then fine. I wasn't doing anything wrong. I wasn't some fangbanger who just threw her body and blood at vampires. Eric had been a onetime thing, and Godric just wanted to talk.

The sun was setting as I walked the short distance home. I had a car sitting in the parking lot of the apartment building but I hardly ever used it. Even in the middle of winter I would rather walk than drive. Everything was just so close together around campus, my apartment only being a few blocks away. It was the perfect college community, one that I knew I would miss once I graduated and was thrust into the real world.

I was lost in thought as I arrived at my apartment building and trekked up the four flights of stairs before arriving at my door. I stuck the key in and pushed the door open, the heat of the apartment rushing around me and causing a sigh of content to escape my lips. I pulled off the mounds of layers I had worn outside, placing the bottles of blood in the fridge before heading into my room. I tossed my book bag down onto my bed before pulling off my sweater. I looked at myself in the full length mirror and frowned. I looked like a mess. There was snow in my hair from the short walk, and my cheeks were a bright red. My shirt was wrinkled, the typical college girl look, and I didn't look at all presentable. Godric was going to think I looked horrible when he came over.

I was certain that he wouldn't care how I looked, but I did. I shouldn't have. But just like with Eric, I stupidly cared about how I looked. Why was I trying to impress him? I didn't understand it at all, but I did. It was for that reason that my closet seemed to explode out onto my bed as I searched for the perfect outfit to wear.

I was nearly knees deep in clothing when a knock sounded at the front door. I cursed under my breath, only clothed in a pair of dark wash jeans and a bra. Not exactly something you could answer the door in.

"Crap." I searched through my mounds of clothes before grabbing a long blue and teal plain button up shirt and tossed it off. I picked up a belt on my way out of the bedroom, wrapping it around my waist and buckling it comfortably. I checked my appearance in the mirror beside the door, running my fingers through my hair before shrugging and opening the door. "Hi, sorry about that."

Godric offered me a smile, his sea coloured orbs standing out today as he wore a muted grey sweater and linen pants. On anyone else, it would have washed them out. But on Godric, he looked perfect. I hated myself for blushing at that moment as I motioned him in. I silently scolded myself as I closed the door, letting my hair fall into my face to hide my embarrassing thoughts.

"I hope I'm not too early." Godric gazed around the apartment as if this was the first time he had really seen it. "I was just...intrigued to talk with you again."

"Oh no, not at all." I couldn't help but grin at the vampire. He always made me want to smile around him. "I'm glad you're here. Did you want something to drink? I picked up some true blood at the store. You never did let me buy you a drink last night."

"I'm perfectly fine." He declined. Something on my face must have showed my disappointment, because he shook his head slightly, smiling as he added, "Unless you're insisting."

"I'm insisting." I returned the smile as I slipped into the small kitchen. "I wasn't sure what kind you liked so I just bought a variety pack." I motioned Godric over and opened the fridge, double checking to make sure there was nothing embarrassing inside for him to see. I was happy to note that it looked like any regular old fridge as Godric peered at the bottle.

"I'll have an AB Negative." Godric nodded at the blood. "Thank you."

I fished it out of the fridge and then stood there, not sure what to do with it.

"We drink it heated." Godric offered, that spark returning to his orbs, the same as last night. he seemed amused at my lack of knowledge, and I made a mental note to read up more about vampires in the coming days. That is, if I didn't completely scare Godric off tonight. God knows that was a possibility with my embarrassing behaviour.

After heating the bottle of blood, thanks to Godric's directions, I grabbed a bottle of water and we sat in the living room. Neither of us said a word at first. I fiddled with the cap of the water while Godric silently sipped at his synthetic blood. By the grimace on his face, I could tell it wasn't exactly to his liking.

"Did I heat it wrong?" I asked worriedly. "I mean maybe my microwave is..."

"Do you apologize for everything?" he raised an eyebrow and chuckled, leaning forward and setting the bottle on the coffee table. He even used a coaster. Whoever said vampires couldn't be house trained?

"Apparently." I shrugged with a laugh. "You didn't look like you liked it though."

"While Synthetic blood sustains us, it's not quite the same as...human blood." He explained, hesitance in his voice.

"I guess it's sort of the same as processed food." I nodded in understanding. "There's just nothing that can beat the real thing."

"Essentially, yes."

"So then why do vampires drink it if it tastes so rotten?" I asked curiously.

"It's the reason we've begun to...mainstream as it's called. Without it, we never would have come out into the public. It allows humans, like yourself, to feel safer, knowing there is a substitute to human blood."

"Does that actually happen though? Can't vampires just glamour humans into being okay with giving you their blood?"

He nodded, though a frown settled on his lips. "Many still do."

"What about you?"

"I haven't tasted human blood since True Blood was created." He surprised me by saying.

"Not even a little drop?" My mouth hung open in surprise.

"Not even a little drop." He nodded. "I don't wish to be that barbarian any longer. I've spent too many years of my life doing terrible things, Savannah. It may taste terrible, but True Blood allows me to live the life I wished I could have lived many centuries ago."

"I can understand that." I offered him a small smile. "For the record, I think that makes you really brave."

"How so?" his eyebrows furrowed together.

"I have no idea what it's like to be a vampire and the urges you might get. But I can speak for us humans when I say when we get a craving, it's usually hard to sate it with something else. It takes a lot of patience and determination to do what you're doing. And I think it's brave. I'm sure there aren't that many who would be able to do that."

"You speak of me very highly." He tilted his head to the side. "You speak of me like I'm a saint, not a monster."

"I understand that you've done some horrible things in your lifetime, Godric." I shrugged. "But that doesn't mean you can't be a good person now. The fact that you're trying to change just shows that you're a different person then you were then."

"You are wise beyond your years." He mused.

"Well I do go to Yale." I flashed him a grin. "I do know a thing or two."

"Yes you do." he chuckled softly.

I hadn't really noticed his accent before. Maybe I had just been too distracted by his striking eyes to notice much anything else about this vampire. I couldn't quite place his accent. I knew it was European, but it could be just about anything considering he's two thousand years old. It was just another thing that I wanted to know about this vampire.

But just how much time would I have to get to know Godric? Was this just a quick little visit? What vampire would want to stay around this Ivy League college community for too long? I hoped he wouldn't just take off however. Because against my better judgement, I was starting to like Godric, and I could only imagine what that would mean for me in the future.