Chapter Thirteen:

It wasn't quick though.

Finding out what I was wasn't quick at all.

Weeks passed and we had found nothing useful. I searched the internet, and should have known better than to trust the crazies who had access to the internet. There should be a restriction on idiotic websites claiming they know everything to do with the supernatural. Godric and I had a good laugh on a post about vampires where they got just about everything wrong. I once asked Godric how he felt about garlic and he merely shrugged and chuckled. He had been around long enough to hear all of the stories, to read and watch the works of fiction that tried to depict the creatures they never even knew really existed.

I was surprised to find out how many different creatures and species actually did roam about. Godric had given me a lesson one night when I asked curiously. Werewolves were a given, I had always suspected that vampire's greatest enemy just had to be real. They had gotten that one right in the books and movies. Witches also weren't a big surprise. Magic was what gave vampires life. Hell, I had magic inside of me or else I wouldn't be able to do the things that I could. I did discover however, that there were more were animals than just wolves. I asked while giggling if even rats were included, and he just stared at me long and hard until I realized that there were such things as wererats.

I was so fascinated that whenever I wasn't studying for my approaching final exams, I was in the newly designed supernatural studies section of the library on campus. I found out, unfortunately, that while it was huge, with many rows and stacks of books, that most of them repeated what the others said, and that was just information we already knew. There wasn't much new material to go around, not yet. I guess vampires were still pretty fresh out of the coffin that even the vampire books were far and few between with actual information that was useful. I did come across a supernatural journal talking about blood bonds between vampires and humans. I photocopied what sounded interesting, knowing that in the future I'd want to know more about this bond I now shared with Godric.

Unfortunately though, there was just nothing useful that helped me discover what I was, or even give me a clue as to how I could control the power inside of me. I did realize as time wore on that the power and beast inside of me was calm whenever Godric around. We found that touching flesh to flesh no longer roared the beast to life, and instead, there was just a pleasant tingle wherever the other would touch, as if our bodies and power were welcoming the other. Around humans, the power was almost not even there, like I had just been imagining it all along. Which was good, in its own way. I couldn't imagine going through final exams with the beast instead of me doing flip flops all the time.

Godric and I tried kissing again. Neither of us understood what happened the first time we had kissed and why I had nearly died. But as time wore on, and as keeping apart seemed to become extremely hard for both of us, kissing became easier and needed. I was still unsure about sex. That would be something new, and apparently my powers didn't like new. It reacted to new. So until we knew for sure whatever this was, whatever was going on with me, we were trying to keep our hands off of one another. If it had been any other vampire, or a human man even, it would be been impossible, and maybe he might not have even stuck around. There was sexual tension in the air whenever either of us entered a room the other was in. I think I was the one who was more impatient. I had fantasies about ripping his clothes off and just taking him in the living room. That was when the beast did roar to life. Godric knew it too. Every time I found myself frustrated, it felt like power was just littering the air, rolling around us. And there would be a wide grin on Godric's face.

But this was more than just having sex with the vampire. I mean sex would have been mind blowing; there was no doubt about that. But I wanted to know what I was. I wanted to know how I could control these powers. And before I walked by another cemetery.

"You look distracted." Jenna commented as we walked through campus after leaving the library one evening. Exams were only next week and we were trying to study as much as possible. These exams were it. After they were done, we'd be graduating and moving up into the real world. That thought alone excited me. "Just another week or so, then we'll be done. Don't lose focus now."

"I know." I nodded, offering her a small smile.

"It's that vampire isn't it?" she sent me an unsure look. I tried to deny it, but she just shook her head with an eye roll. "You barely study with us past sunset and we decided that first night we saw him that he was a vampire."

"He's just..." I tried to think of what to say. How could I explain what Godric meant to me without going over everything that happened?

"Hey you don't need to explain it to me." Jenna shrugged. "We haven't really had vampires around here before, and in my small little town back home, I doubt we ever will. I don't know them, and while I don't want to know them, I can't really judge them."

I was relieved to hear that. I didn't want Jenna to go running around screaming bloody murder over Godric being a vampire.

"Just be careful, alright?" a look of concern crossed her face as she pulled me to a stop. "I don't want to turn on the news one night and find your picture."

"Godric isn't like that." I shook my head. "He's...well he's one of the good ones."

"He's still a vampire."

"Humans aren't all that perfect either." I pointed out.

"I know that, but we don't need human blood to survive."

"He hasn't drunk from a human since True Blood was created years ago." I defended Godric with a frown. "He's the kindest person I've ever met, and that includes humans."

"Well you'd know better than I would I guess." She pushed the strap of her back higher on her shoulder. "Just be careful."

"I will." I assured her, but I knew Godric wasn't the vampire that I had to be careful around. I knew Eric wouldn't hurt me, at least physically. I still had that instinct about him. I didn't understand it, but it was the same instinct I had about Godric, so I couldn't really question it. Sure he was a bit of a creeper stalker, and this whole claiming business freaked me out a little bit, but I didn't think Eric was as monstrous as he tried to make himself out to be. Maybe I wouldn't feel that way once he figured out the mystery and was bored of me. I just hoped that day didn't come.

"Well I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow bright and early." Jenna flashed a careful smile before waving and turning down an intersecting path to the other side of campus.

I watched her trail away for a few moments before sighing and beginning down the pathway towards the east end of campus. Exams were soon, and I felt more worried about figuring out what I was than my own grades. That should have bothered me, but it didn't.

What I was worried about, more than anything, was Eric's visit. I knew it would be soon. It had to be. He had to have known that once I graduated, I wouldn't be staying here for much longer. He seemed to know everything he wished to without even lifting a finger. How else would he have known my phone number? Then again, if that was true, he'd be able to track me down wherever I went. Part of me just wanted to get it over with now so I wouldn't have to worry about it in the future. But that's what he wanted. He wanted me to worry about it, to think about him at all times. It wouldn't be fun for him if I didn't care. He wanted me to care. He wanted to cause a scene, to get me upset. Because he knew the moment he walked back into my life, I would likely fall at his feet. It wouldn't be on purpose, but just a week and a half with the vampire and I had found myself starting to fall for him in ways that I shouldn't have. We had kissed, and no matter how many times I'll ever kiss Godric, I'll always remember the one I shared with Eric. Maybe it wasn't better. Maybe it was on the same level of fantastic as Godric's. But I still thought about Eric's hands on my body. I still thought about his lips pressing against mine seductively. There was just no way around that unfortunately.

I was nearly halfway across campus when I felt a prickle on the back of my neck. I kept walking for a few feet before I felt a tug at my body that I knew a bit too well. I stopped short and twisted around. There wasn't anyone around. It was a Friday evening; most students had already wandered home to get ready for their busy night of partying. Even I had cut my studying short to spend time with Godric. The sun was already in the process of setting when I left the library not even ten minutes ago, and now the sky was darker. Godric was due back from his three day venture he had taken to a nearby acquaintance he knew that might have an idea of what I could possibly be. I wasn't sure when he would show up, but I had wanted to at least pop by the grocery store before it became full dark and pick up some true blood for Godric.

But once I felt that tug for a second time, I forgot all about my plans and errands and twisted this way and that to look for the source. I knew it was a metaphysical tug. It felt like some invisible hand was grasping around my limbs, pulling me in the direction they were calling. But this had only happened at the cemetery, and that was still a good couple of blocks away. So why was I feeling that now? Last time I checked, someone wasn't murdered and buried on campus.

But then again, could I say that for the entire length of Yale's history? What about before Yale was built? There could be hundreds of years of bones and decay beneath my feet and I just never knew it until now. Because now apparently the dead liked me. I wasn't so sure I was a fan of the dead though. The undead wasn't so bad; at least they were walking around looking all handsome. But I could do without the true dead.

That didn't seem like it was going to happen though. I felt the hairs on the back on my neck stick up as the beast inside of me roared, scattering around as if it was trying to get away from the eerie feeling. I looked across the campus, searching for any source of a dead body. There weren't any of course, that would have been too easy. No, there were bodies buried deep underneath Yale, and I just had the unfortunate pleasure of being able to feel them all.

Fan-friggin-tastic.

"I just need to go home." I mumbled to myself, running a hand through my hair. Maybe if I just hurried home, then the feeling would pass.

But even as I tried to step forward, to continue on my way, I just couldn't. Instead, I had lost complete control of my body. It was just like that night in the cemetery. A wave of death washed over me, chilling me to the bone as imaginary dead limbs came grasping out of the ground and searched for me. And my legs started walking right through it all. The farther I walked, the more death I could feel. My heart was thumping away in my chest, too scared to possibly slow down. I tried to plead with this otherworldly power to leave me alone, for the dead to call out to someone else. But there was no one else. I was it. At least, that's what they thought.

The whispers started again. There weren't as many as in the cemetery, but there were enough pleads for help that it shook my body to the core. I didn't want this to happen again. it had been horrible the last time. I didn't want to feel the touch of death. I didn't want my blood to run cold, to feel a little less than the living. I didn't want to see murders or any sort of death. I didn't want to hear voices of those long passed away. Except not all of them had passed away. Parts of their souls were still stuck beneath my feet, they were begging for release. But how could I help them? How could I give them what they wanted when I didn't even know how I was hearing them all?

"Help us!"

"Help me!"

"Please help us!"

"Stop it!" I whispered under my breath, tears forming in my eyes as I fought against the control of the dead as they pulled me across the grass to beside a large tree. Spring had finally arrived, and with it warmer weather and the disappearance of snow. I was thankful for the change in seasons, hating the winter months. But I also knew that there was less between me and the dead now. There was no fluffy sheet of snow to come between us. It was just me and the cold ground.

"Help us please!"

"Help us!"

"Please help me!"

"I can't help you!" I yelled at the voices that only I could hear. I didn't risk looking around, not wanting to see if actual living human beings were around to watch my complete insanity melt down. "Just leave me alone! Please!"

But the voices of the dead wouldn't leave me alone. They were growing louder and louder until it pained me to hear them all. I cried out, still clutching the head, and fell to my knees. The ground was still hard, frozen from the colder weather only weeks ago. The moment my knees hit the ground, my vision altered, my mind was no longer there on campus like my body still was. No, I was being thrust through scene after scene, watching as these people died. Yale had yet to be built, this was centuries ago, centuries of death that felt like knives were ripping through me, slicing up my lungs as I struggled to breathe. My heart was racing as I watched the murderers chase down their victims. I watched in pure agony as women died from childbirth, and children cried for their parents before falling ill and dying. I was gasping for air as the visions slowed down to a specific one. It was of a girl no older than I was. She was lying in a makeshift bed, a cold cloth lying across her forehead. She whispered out to no one, her hand reaching out as if to grasp my invisible form. She was dying; I could see it in her face. Her eyes were blurry and glazed over. She was staring up at the ceiling as if heaven was splitting open to welcome her. Not even a minute passed before a single last breath escaped her lips and her eyes gently closed, her body grew limp.

It was a peaceful death, unlike the little boy I had watched being murdered. But death was still death. I had still watched this innocent woman die right before my very eyes.

Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I was pulled back into reality. I found myself still on my knees on campus, the dead now lying still beneath me. I didn't wait for the voices to begin again however, and quickly scrambled to my feet. My legs could barely hold me however, and I had to brace myself against the large tree in order to not fall down. The sun had set completely while I had been shown the last few minutes of these people's death, and I was almost tempted to call Godric, for him to sweep in and save the day like always.

But I didn't. Maybe I was too stubborn, or maybe I just didn't want Godric to think that I was some weak little girl, but I just stumbled away from the tree, determined to make it home myself. I found if I ran, truly ran as if my life depended on it, it was easier to keep my legs from collapsing on me. I knew that if I stopped, that would be it, I would be on the ground crying, my heart breaking, death wrapping around me like a blanket. So I ran as hard as I possibly could.

I could still feel it. I could still feel their cold dead hands grasping onto me, pleading for me to help them. It felt like I had died right alongside of them, like I would never be able to find warmth again. I just wanted to curl up under a heap of blankets and hope this would go away. But I knew it wouldn't be that easy. I needed Godric; I needed his comfort, his safety. I just needed that vampire, and I prayed he wouldn't take long to come over tonight.

It took quicker than normal to get home, to rush the few blocks and jog up the stairs to my apartment. I fumbled with my keys only to find that the door was already unlocked. I should have been worried about that, but my mind wasn't on anything but what just happened at campus with the dead of centuries past. A small whimper escaped my lips as I darted into my apartment, closing the door behind me quickly as if I was trying to cut off that dead feeling crawling inside of me. Except that I couldn't. It was still there as I leaned against the door, as my eyes squeezed shut.

"Hello Savannah."

I almost didn't believe it at first. I thought I was just hearing things. Maybe I was trying to make myself feel better by hearing that velvety smooth voice that sent tingles down my spine, that warmed my body before tightening in desire. That had to have been it. Right? Because otherwise, there was some impossible shit going on that I honestly didn't want to know about.

"Is that anyway to say hello?"

My eyes snapped open and my mouth gaped as I took in the tall figure only a few feet away. There Eric Northman was, standing in my apartment, his hands slipped into his pockets as he flashed me that arrogant smirk of his. Was I imagining things? Because Eric shouldn't have been in my apartment. It was impossible.

"Have I rendered you speechless?" that smirk of his grew as he took a step closer, closing the gap with his long stride.

I gulped as I plastered myself against the closed door, cursing myself for not even noticing the vampire in the apartment when I first darted in. but I had been so focused on what had happened only minutes ago that I hadn't thought I would need to scope out my own apartment to make sure there weren't any unwelcome guests.

"How are you...I never...what the fuck are you doing here?" I finally found my voice, though it wavered as I spoke. I wasn't scared of Eric, but he left me speechless and not knowing what to think. And this was not the night I needed this, not after what happened on campus. I could still feel the icy cold chill inside of my body. I could still feel their dead hands running across my limbs. I shuddered at the mere thought and tried to shake it all away. Except it just clung to me, and not even the sight of Eric Northman was enough to make it fade away.

"Funny thing about renting an apartment. It's not entirely owned by you." The space between us was closed as the vampire loomed over me, his hand rising up to rest against the door to one side of my head. I had very little space to move, very little space to even collect my thoughts. I had to crane my neck up in order to stare Eric in the eye. And the moment I did, I lost myself in those vibrant blue eyes. I had almost forgotten how intense they were, how blue one set of eyes could be. They were nothing like Godric's calm and warm sea coloured orbs. They were just as beautiful however. I could stare into those deep blue eyes for hours without growing bored, and Eric knew the effect he had over me. He was used to every girl falling at his feet and I hated that I had turned into one of those girls. I had been so strong in Shreveport, but now, now I was just some weak fan girl and I hated myself for that. Where was my dignity?

"Aren't you happy to see me, Savannah?" he drew even closer, if it was even remotely possible. He raised his free hand up to caress my cheek with the backs of his fingers. Goose bumps rose on my arms as I shuddered from his touch. His touch felt different this time, and I knew why. The moment his skin met mine, the power surged inside of me. The beast roared, but in such a different way than with Godric. It was almost like the power recognized Eric as well, but more intimately than it ever had with Godric. Maybe it was because of the kiss Eric and I shared that had unlocked this energy deep inside of me. But for whatever reason, the power was flourishing, the warmth spreading throughout my body and flowing right into the blonde vampire before me. His eyebrows furrowed as a frown crossed his lips. He fingers froze over my cheek, and he looked as if he was about to pull away. But he didn't. He cupped my cheek and held his hand there, his eyes closing for a brief moment as the beast rolled right out of me and into him. "So much has changed, hasn't it, my sweet little mystery."

"Get away from me." I managed out in a low voice, though my eyes too had fluttered close as the warmth began to battle away the touch of death.

"You feel different." His hand began slipping down to my neck, his thumb brushing across my pulsing vein. The blood began pumping faster as my heart started to race from his mere touch. A low chuckle emitted from the vampire as he pressed his body against mine, his nose nuzzling into my hair. "You smell more delectable than I remember."

"Please..." My voice was barely above a whisper as I spoke, my body beginning to tremble between the wood door and the vampire. Though the plea was a fail, as even my body knew that I didn't want Eric to move. I wanted him to stay there, in that spot, his body against mine. At least until I felt like myself again. It felt like boiling hot water had just been poured over my head, but unlike the last time I felt this sensation, it was welcomed. I just wanted the icy cold chill to go away, for death to be shoved out of my body and enveloped by warmth, by the living. And while Eric was technically the undead, he was still alive in some sense of the word.

His one hand left the door as it came to rest on my waist, his fingers digging into me as he pressed me so hard into the door I squeaked in pain. But it was a welcome pain, one that brought me out of the dark place I had been thrown into by the dead. It felt like the light of the living was spilling out around me until finally, the hands fell away and I was free.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips, but Eric had mistaken my reaction. Before I even could understand what was happening, Eric's lips were pressed against mine. I gasped, though that only offered Eric's tongue entrance, his now battling with mine. I couldn't stop myself from moaning as Eric's tongue swiped across my bottom lip before returning to its attack against my own tongue. His hands were running down my body, one snaking around my back to press me even harder against him until I could feel his arousal beginning to grow in his pants.

It wasn't just his arousal I could feel however, it was the power. The power was cursing through me at such a great speed that I almost missed that it was there entirely. But Eric could feel it knocking right into him, his fingers gripping my hips so tightly that I knew I would have bruises there. The beast inside of me was coiling around us, pulling us even closer together in every sense of the word. It felt like chains were holding us against one another, like even if either of us pulled away, we would never truly be freed of each other. Something was happening between us, to us, and neither of us seemed to care as Eric deepened the kiss, our powers, our energies, our life forces flowing through ourselves and into the other. It was different than when I kissed Godric, especially the first time. I knew right then that this was what was supposed to happen with Godric, that we were supposed to share ourselves. Except somehow, we had stolen each other's life forces. But with Eric, it was a smooth transition. It was the most pleasurable experience and I knew that not even sex could possibly be better than this. This was on a whole other level.

The moment our lips parted, the moment Eric pulled away to rest his forehead against mine, it felt like our life forces were sucked back down inside of us in their rightful homes. I felt exhausted, like I could have fallen asleep right then and there. Eric's grip loosened on my hip as he raised a hand to begin caressing my cheek once again.

"You are magnificent." He breathed out. "I won't let you escape from me again, Savannah. You. Are. Mine."

A/N: as promised, a chapter! I'm back from my vacation, and as predicted, I have so much inspiration. so you can count on lots more chapters to come within the next few days. Eric has shown up, so you can just imagine what's going to happen now.

Oh, so during the long road trip home yesterday, I was doing some deep thinking (my deep thinking even on vacation involves true blood lol) and I realized that I made a little boo boo with chapter one...it wasn't anything big, I just said it was 8 months earlier when it should have been a year and eight months...most of you probably didn't even notice, and for that I will give you all cookies. and to those that may have noticed...I ah...I totally meant for that :p lol it's fixed now. I will admit my faults and mistakes, so if anyone notices anything thats wonky (because I can be a major idiot sometimes) please don't hesitate to let me know!