Chapter Twenty Seven:

I didn't want to believe Eric and Godric at first, though I knew all the evidence was pointing at the fact that I was a Necromancer. But it just felt so forbidden and dark and evil that I wasn't sure I was satisfied with that answer. But it was the only plausible answer we've found yet, and I guess a small part of me did know that they were right. All the signs were there. I could control vampires, if I knew the right buttons to press. I raised that vampire from its grave before it should have ever happened. I felt this rush of power whenever I was around vampires, especially Eric and Godric. Eric had been the one to unlock this power; he had been the one to bring this dormant side of me to the surface. But it had been Godric who had unleashed it to its full potential. And now I had this strange beast inside of me, this power that I couldn't control. Bill had described it perfectly; there was a dark, suffocating, magic inside of me.

It was for that reason that I needed to get out, that I needed to jump into the car that had been shipped all the way from Connecticut to Shreveport, and just clear my head. And that's exactly what I did. I drove aimlessly around Shreveport the next afternoon, just trying to process everything. And when that didn't work out, I tried blasting music from the stereo to drown out all of my thoughts. It worked for a little while, at least until I felt a trickle of power, goose bumps rising on my arms. I nearly caused an accident when I came to a sudden stop on a busy street, the feeling almost becoming electrifying. After a few honks and cursed yells, I tried to shake the feeling off and pulled off to the side. I shakily ran a hand through my hair as I glanced around me, expecting a cemetery to be nearby. But I knew this city like the back of my hand, and I knew there wasn't a cemetery for blocks on either side of me. So where was this trickle of power emitting from?

I found it when I happened to glance across the street. The moment my eyes laid on the shop a few stores down, I felt the power grow, my beast clawing around inside of me. It wasn't painful, however, and oddly enough, it was almost calming. I realized that my beast wasn't trying to claw at the power, but trying to soak it all up. It was almost intoxicating, like I wanted more. And I did.

I put the car in park before slipping out. The morning was warm and sunny, and I was glad I had worn shorts and only a thin tank. Summer started early in the south, and the Louisiana air was already hot and humid. I glanced both ways before hurrying across the street, my feet having a mind of their own as I moved closer to the shop. As I reached an intersection, I barely had enough sense to stop as a car turned the corner, more honks being sent in my direction. I tried to shake my head, tried to come back down to reality. But that power, it was just filling me up, like a warmth was spreading from my fingers to my toes. And I just wanted more of it. It felt different than when I was with Eric and Godric, when I was touching them and feeling their essence touching my own. This felt warm and protective, almost familiar in a way. I didn't understand what exactly it was, but I wanted to find out.

"Moon Goddess Emporium." I muttered to myself as I crossed the intersection and came to a stop just outside the shop. I knew right away what this was. It was a Wiccan shop. I spied the display cases, trying to pick out any familiar herbs stacked in the window. But nothing looked familiar at all. Were the owners of the shop the witches Bill had been talking about? Was this were the witches convened? Was this magic I was feeling, emitting from the shop and filling me up completely? "Only one way to find out."

I pushed open the door, wind chimes ringing as I stepped into the musty smelling shop. It smelt like burning herbs and other smells I couldn't recognize. My nose scrunched up as I took a good look around. I couldn't even give every item I found a name. I knew I wasn't an idiot, I did graduate Yale after all, but I also wasn't used to this supernatural community I had been thrust into. But I was now a member of that community, even though I didn't want to be, and I had to learn more about this magic that was inside of me. It also didn't hurt to try and see just how dangerous, or not so dangerous, these witches might happen to be.

I was so caught up in looking around that I hadn't noticed someone had walked into the store front from the back until a voice sounded in the room.

"Can I help you?"

I jumped nearly a foot in the air as I spun around, my hand resting over my racing heart.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." A middle aged woman wore a warm smile as she stood behind the front counter. "Can I help you with anything?"

A blonde slipped from the back, a smile on her own face though I noticed the expression she wore was a bit guarded. I wondered about that. Were these really the witches I had been told about? And if they were, just how dangerous might they be? I was starting to believe that maybe this hadn't been such a good idea, letting myself be trapped by this warm and intoxicating magic that I felt. But maybe this would give me the opportunity to do a little spying for the vampires. I was a prospecting journalist after all; I should be able to pull something like this off easily.

"Oh I just happened to be walking by and I saw your interesting little shop." I put on a smile as I stepped forward.

"Are you interested in the Wiccan lifestyle?" the blonde asked friendly enough.

"You know, I've just recently been getting into it." I lied so smoothly. "It just seems so peaceful and rewarding."

"That's exactly it." the first woman nodded, her southern accent thick. "We empower ourselves, through the natural magic around us."

"It just sounds so perfect." I nodded along. "I just never knew how to get started."

"You've come to the right place. Come, come." The older woman waved me to a small table off to one side with a chair on either side. "I'll give you a reading, try and get a sense of your magic. We all have some inside of us. Some just embrace it better than others."

"Marnie is really great at her readings." The blonde assured me as I stared hesitantly at the chairs. "I'm Holly by the way. And you are?"

"Savannah." I shook her hand. "I've never had a reading done on me before."

"It's nothing to be afraid of." Holly urged me.

"Well I guess I have nothing to lose." I shrugged, letting Marnie lead me over to the table and we both took a seat in the chairs. I eyed everything around me, still feeling that warmth from the magic surrounding me. It was a wonderful feeling, that I couldn't deny.

"Do you have something personal on you, something I could touch?" Marnie questioned as she lit a few candles on the table.

I thought for a moment before nodding, slipping out the hair pin I had put in my hair that morning. It had belonged to my grandmother apparently. I couldn't remember her much, she had died when I was only a young child, and even then, she and my mother didn't get along since she had gotten pregnant with me at a young age. But apparently the hair piece had been a sentimental item to my mother.

I laid the pin in Marnie's outstretched hand and watched as she closed her fingers over it and closed her eyes. I shot a glance at Holly, who must have sensed my nerves and nodded in encouragement. I felt a warm aurora seep out of her. She was older than I was, but she had this southern ease about her that appealed to me. Marnie on the other hand, while I felt that she was open and inviting, there was something about her that didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it, much like with Bill, but there was something almost foreboding and ominous about Marnie. And that worried me.

I let out a small gasp as the flames suddenly roared to life, growing three times in height. I pushed my chair back, my eyes growing wide as Marnie began muttering something under her breath. My heart was racing as I looked in Holly's direction. The blonde looked stunned, her eyes just as wide as mine were. That didn't comfort me at all.

"Strange." Marnie's voice became clearer. "So very strange."

"What's strange, Marnie?" Holly stepped forward, a look of worry on her face. "Marnie, are you alright?"

Marnie held up her free hand, as if to stop her from coming any closer. That's when a gust of wind swept through the shop. The door and windows weren't open however.

"I think this is just a little too weird for me..." I began to say, about to stand up.

"Sit." Marnie's tone became stern, her eyes still closed as the wind picked up, blowing the hair away from my face.

"Holly..." I sent the blonde a pleading look.

"I've never seen this before." She shook her head apologetically. "Maybe we should just ride it out."

I didn't exactly want to. This was getting weirder by the minute. But I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. So I stayed there, rooted to the spot as I eyed Marnie. Suddenly, the witch grabbed me by the wrist, that warmth and intoxicating magic I had felt earlier now sweeping through me with such force, I couldn't breathe. I was gasping for breath, my eyes growing even wider as I search for a single ounce of air. The magic cursing through me didn't feel so nice anymore. It was painful. It felt like it was attacking my own power, my beast clawing at the magic but it was just no use. My powers may have been strong, but I hadn't learned how to control them. This magic was anything but warm and fuzzy however, and it felt like it was ripping me apart from the inside out. I let out a gasping cry of pain as black dots began to invade my vision. I could vaguely see Holly rushing over, but she was suddenly halted by whatever magic was littering the air, the same magic that was tearing through me.

"Marnie, Marnie you need to stop." Holly's voice sounded far away as my eyes began to flutter.

I fought against the tug at my consciousness, but without a breath of air and the magic tearing through me, it was a losing battle.

I awoke with the worst headache I've ever encountered. I groaned as my eyes began to slowly open, only to clamp back shut as a bright light burned my eyes from above. I heard the shuffling of feet around me before the bright burning light was flicked off and I was able to crack open my eyes once again. When I did so, I found I was in the backroom of the magic shop lying on a cot. I raised a shaky hand to my forehead, trying to massage away the headache as I slowly tried to sit up.

"Take it easy." Holly's voice sounded from my left and I found the blonde kneeling beside the cot, a wet cloth in her hands. "Here, this should help."

I let the blonde lay the cloth over my forehead as I remained lying down. It was cool, and I hadn't realized until now that my body felt like it was burning up. It reminded me of that first night Godric and I had met one another. He had walked me back to my apartment when suddenly my power had been unleashed, tearing through me much like it had today.

"How are you feeling, Savannah?" Holly questioned, leaning over me slightly, a look of concern on her face.

"My head feels like it's going to burst, and my body feels like it's on fire. But other than that, I'm fine." I tried to assure her.

"You worried us." She offered a small smile. "I've never seen anything so...so..."

"So powerful." It was Marnie who finished Holly's comment. I turned my head to the opposite side and found Marnie pacing the length of the back room. "I've never felt such power from another witch."

"I'm not a witch." I shook my head, which I instantly regretted. I groaned and closed my eyes, trying to urge the headache away.

"You have a great deal of power, did you know? There's a magic inside of you that I've never seen before." She shook her head. "It's a magic that we all strive for."

"I-I didn't know." I fibbed, hoping neither of the women could see passed my lie. I seemed to be better at lying that I initially thought, as they both bought my confusion. Maybe I shouldn't have given up that internship at the New York paper; apparently I was better at this than I thought.

"I could feel it too." Holly nodded. "It was different than I've felt before, but I could feel it. It was almost..."

"Suffocating." I whispered with a nod. "I couldn't breathe."

"That was my fault I believe. I was channelling both of our magic and it seemed to have overwhelmed you." Marnie frowned for a moment before a bright grin crossed her face. "You should join us."

"Join you?" I raised an eyebrow as I lifted the cool cloth from my forehead and slowly rose up into a sitting position.

"You should join our circle." Marnie was nodding, as if agreeing with herself that it would be a good idea.

"I'm sorry; I don't know what you're talking about." I looked over at Holly for an explanation. I found that I could trust the blonde, though I hardly knew a thing about her. But there was just something about her I felt drawn to. If she was a witch, maybe it was just the magic inside of her. But then I should have felt the same with Marnie. But even now, I felt something was off about the older witch, something almost dark and looming.

Maybe Bill and Godric did have a reason to worry.

"We're part of a coven." Holly began to explain. "We don't do much, just play with a few spells..."

"We could dabble into so much more if we only had the power." Marnie drew forward and I felt myself grow tense. "You could learn so much about yourself if you joined us. We'd be able to delve into magic like we've never done before."

"That sounds a bit...intense." I shrugged. I wasn't a witch because apparently I was a necromancer. But even though I had been born with this curse, it didn't mean that I didn't have magic running through my veins. I realized now what this power had been. I always knew it had to have been some sort of magic, even Godric had told me that. But I never really believed it until now, until I felt magic for myself and realized I too, was magical. It was unnerving, to say the least, but I couldn't help a small part of myself from being intrigued, from wanting to know more about what surged through me.

"We could help you harness this gift you were given." Marnie tried to persuade me. "Together, as one, we could help you, and you in return, could aid us."

"I don't know..."

"Why don't you think about it?" Holly suggested, sensing my uncertainty. "We meet here tomorrow night at 9. If you want to join us, then feel free to come."

"We hope that you do." Marnie looked eager.

I could only smile and nod as Holly helped me onto my feet. "I should probably get going. How long was I out?"

"Ten minutes maybe at the most." Holly shrugged. "Why don't I walk you out? I have to head to work anyways."

"Remember, tomorrow night." Marnie called as we slipped back into the storefront.

I glanced over my shoulder at the older woman, watching as she began pacing again, muttering under her breath. I frowned, finding her behaviour to be odd, but kept my comments to myself as Holly and I left the shop.

"I'm really sorry about all of that." Holly looked genuinely sorry as we stepped out into the sunny afternoon. "I don't think either of us thought that would happen."

"It's no one's fault." I assured her with a small smile. "Couldn't have predicted that."

"I still feel terrible." She frowned. "I wish there was some way I could make it up to you."

"You really don't have to..."

"Oh I know." Her eyes brightened. "Why don't I buy you lunch?"

"Really, Holly, I'm fine. A bit shaky, but I'm fine."

"I insist." She shook her head, a smile spreading across her lips. "I work at this little place called Merlotte's. It's in Bon Temps, have you heard of it?"

"I've never been, but I've passed by the town before." I nodded.

"If you don't have anything else to do today, why don't you follow me over and I can buy you lunch. It's the least I can do for everything that's happened."

I knew Holly was the type that wouldn't stop insisting to make things right, so after a moment, I nodded and decided that I might as well take her up on her offer. I felt drained after what had just happened, so a bite to eat would be good. It was still hours away from nightfall, so I didn't have anything planned until my two vampires awoke from their dead sleep. What could it hurt?

"You know what, lunch sounds great."

"This is...quaint." I looked around Merlotte's, taking in the simple decor of the small town bar.

"I know it's not much." Holly shrugged.

"It's nice." I assured her with a smile. "It reminds me of a bar we had on campus back at school. Of course, that was usually filled with drunk college guys..."

"Well we have drunk rednecks here." There was an easy smile on her face as she motioned towards the bar. "Have a seat while I go get changed. Sam here will take care of you."

I spied a dark blonde behind the bar wearing a plaid shirt and filling a pitcher with beer. The man offered a smile as I slipped onto one of the barstool, still eying the bar with interest. I had lived in Shreveport my entire life, but I had never ventured out to the small town of Bon Temps only 45 minutes away. It was easy to notice that I looked out of place. Maybe I didn't look a whole lot different than the lunch crowd peering curiously at me, but I was unfamiliar, and in a small town, that was something to be curious about.

"Can I get you anything?" Sam asked with a warm smile.

"Just a coke." I returned the smile, feeling an easy spirit from the man.

He nodded and poured the soft drink into a glass and pushed it towards me. "I haven't seen you around here before. You new to the area?"

"From Shreveport actually. Holly and I..."

I never got the chance to finish however, as the door to the bar burst open and a limping form swept in. I heard Sam sigh and glanced over my shoulder to gaze at the boy not too much younger than I was, limping into the bar with a leg brace around his leg.

"Sam." he flashed Sam a smile. "And who's this?"

I rolled my eyes at his gaze travelled over me. He acted nothing more than a typical college boy. I may not have been too social during my four years at Yale, but I had gone to the local pubs once or twice. Of course, I always kicked myself for it. I didn't generally liked being pawed at by immature little boys. Then again, hadn't Eric done exactly that since I met him?

"I apologize for my brother." Sam sent him a dirty look. "He wasn't raised with manners."

"At least I wasn't raised to shoot my own flesh and blood." Sam's brother shot Sam a smug grin before leaning against the bar beside me, the grin twisting into a smirk. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Better not let Maxine hear you say that." Sam warned him. "What are you doing here, Tommy?"

"Can't I just come hang out with my big brother?" there was that shit eating grin again.

Sam wasn't buying the act however and just glared at Tommy.

"Alright, alright, I'm just getting a bite to eat. Or is that not allowed?"

"Just go." Sam nodded at a row of booths.

Tommy's smirk widened as he winked at me before limping over to an empty booth. He flashed on an innocent look to an older couple, who just gushed over the act. I snorted and turned back to Sam, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

"Sorry about him. He's a handful." Sam rolled his eyes.

"Siblings usually are."

"You have any?" Sam wondered.

"No thank god." I laughed. "I wouldn't be able to handle it."

"You're lucky." He tossed a bar towel over his shoulder and held out a hand. "I never introduced myself. Sam Merlotte."

"Merlotte, huh, I guess you own this joint then." I shook his hand, surprised at how warm his grasp was. "Savannah Kingsley."

"Well it's nice to meet you, Savannah."

"You too, Sam." there was something different about him. I couldn't exactly tell what is was, but there was just something in those warm orbs of his that told me he wasn't entirely what he seemed. But he acted like a complete gentleman, chatting away with me while we waited for Holly to return from out of the back. I was starting to kick myself for never venturing out of my own little bubble. Bon Temps may have been a small, nosey town, but the residents were nice, and dare I say, even a little friendly.

"Sorry about that." Holly came bursting out from the back, a basket with a burger and fries in her hands. "I hope you like burgers. Lafayette makes the best in the entire parish."

"I'm always up for a good burger." I nodded.

"Come on over to a booth. We'll sneak in a quick chat before my shift starts." She waved me over to one of the back corner booths.

I flashed Sam a smile before following to blonde. I caught Tommy staring at me as I passed, and I sent him a raised eyebrow. He merely shrugged, winking at me once again before going back to charming the old couple. I snickered to myself before slipping into the booth, Holly doing the same across from me as she set the basket of food in front of me.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry again. I honestly had no idea it was going to get out of hand earlier." A look of guilt crossed Holly's face.

"Don't worry about it." I waved her apology off. "Honestly, Holly, I'm fine. I'm just not used to this whole magic thing."

"You really didn't know there was magic inside of you?" Holly wondered curiously.

"I never really knew it was magic exactly." I replied honestly with a shrug. "I've felt...different lately, but I guess I just never attributed it to magic. The world is a lot different than I thought it to be."

"It's changed a lot in the last couple of years. It's becoming more accepted now to be...different." Holly nodded.

"So then, are you a witch?" I popped a fry into my mouth and eyed Holly. I tried to search for her essence, pushing at her own magic, though I found it was more difficult than I would have thought. I still felt drained of energy from whatever had happened back at Moon Goddess Emporium. It was almost like my power was taking one long cat nap to rejuvenate.

"A Wiccan." She corrected. "I've practiced the Wiccan lifestyle since I was a teenager. My mother didn't approve, but it was more of a religion for me than anything to do with magic."

"So then why dabble in actual magic then?"

"Just a little hobby I guess." Holly shrugged. "Now mind you, I haven't really done a whole lot. Just prayed mostly to the Goddesses that I won't be called up by the sheriff's office about my boys. It's seemed to have worked so far."

I laughed. "So you're a part of this...coven then?"

"Despite the fact that supernatural beings are more open to the human world, maybe even accepted, it's still hard sometimes to find those that will support you. That's what a coven offers; support."

"I can understand that." I nodded. "What exactly do you do in a coven though?"

"Just call upon the goddesses, maybe a few spirits. It's nothing dark or anything." Holly assured me. "Most of the other wiccans don't have enough magic inside of them to do much more than that."

"But Marnie...she does." I assumed, remembering back to that power as it sliced right through me not so long ago.

"She's our coven leader for a reason."

"I can use some help over here, Holly!" a voice called over the noise of the growing customers.

Holly sighed as she glanced around and noticed the bar had begun to fill up. She patted my hand before slipping from the booth, fixing the apron around her waist as she did so.

"I better get to work." Holly smiled apologetically. "If you'd like, you can stick around after you're done your burger and we can talk some more whenever I have a second. I can see you're a bit uncertain about this whole witch thing. And I can understand that. Maybe I can help."

I could have said no. I could have merely said thank you for the meal and had left when I was finished. But for some reason, I didn't want to do that. For some reason, I did want someone to talk to. I obviously couldn't tell her the truth, I wasn't a complete idiot, I knew the risks. But there was this magic inside of me, a magic that I couldn't control or even fully understand. Sure, I knew Eric and Godric would help me along the way, but they were vampires, they didn't understand the power that crawled beneath my skin, not in the same way that an actual witch, like Holly, could. And for some reason, I just felt like I could trust Holly, like she was more than just a witch greedy for power.

"Sure, that'd be great." I agreed. "They don't really have guidebooks laying around about these sorts of things."

She laid her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently, before beginning her rounds at the filled tables. I sighed as I looked back down at my lunch, my stomach growling as I popped another fry in my mouth. If nothing else, maybe I could discover a little bit more about myself. And right now, I could really use that.

Hours had passed, and before I knew it, the sun had set. I was so busy chatting with Holly whenever she had a chance, that I hadn't even noticed the time. I had moved from the booth and to the bar, where Holly would stop by whenever she had a moment to spare. She helped me better understand myself, or at least the magic that lay inside of me. I still wasn't sure if I truly was a necromancer or not, but I was feeling more sure of myself, like maybe I wasn't so much of a freak anymore. I could still do things that weren't normal, that couldn't be explained, that even these witches would look down upon. I just needed to gain control of them, that's all. Maybe then I could lock these powers back up and shove them as deep into my mind as I possibly could. Until that time came, however, I needed to learn more about myself, about what was inside of me. And Holly gave me that opportunity.

"Oh crap, I didn't realize what time it was." I glanced out the window and spied the dark night sky. I knew if I didn't head on back to Shreveport soon to meet up with Eric and Godric at Fangtasia, the two vampires would begin to panic that something had happened. "I better get going."

"Already?" Sam leaned against the bar, a smile perched on his lips. Whenever Holly had been running around the busy bar like a chicken with its head cut off, Sam kept me company. He was even nicer than I initially though, and I found myself making plans to come back to Merlotte's, simply for the friendly company. The food wasn't so bad either. "You sure I can't interest you in a drink."

"Are you flirting with me, Sam Merlotte?" I raised an eyebrow at the man with a sly grin on my face.

"What, me? Not at all." He chuckled heartedly. "Unless you're interested that is."

"Well I'm sorry to say that I'm taken." I patted his arm before slipping off the bar stool. "I really should go."

"Boyfriend will get jealous?"

"Boyfriends, actually." I winked at him. "It was nice meeting you, Sam Merlotte. I think I just might have to come back to this wonderful bar."

He shook his head with a smile. "You do that, Savannah Kingsley. Maybe you'll let me buy you a drink next time."

"Maybe." I couldn't help but grin as I caught Holly's eye and waved. "Thanks again for everything Holly."

"I'll see you tomorrow night?" She asked hopefully as she waltzed over and started to sort out her receipts.

"You know what, yeah, I think you will." I made the on the spot decision. I knew Eric and Godric wouldn't like it one bit, but this was something I had to do. I wanted to learn more about this magic that I had inside of me, that ran through my blood. They could only help me so much. And hey, wouldn't it be better if there was an inside man, someone to watch the coven's progress from inside the circle? I'd be able to monitor their greed for power, if there even was any, better than any of Bill's men could. It was a win-win situation.

Now I just needed to make Eric and Godric see it like that.

"So tomorrow then." I flashed Holly one last smile before turning and heading out of the bar.

I couldn't wipe the smile from my face as I twirled my keys around my fingers, feeling like for the first time in months, I was finally starting to find the answers I had been searching for. I had been so lost in my own thoughts as I crossed through the parking lost to my car that I hadn't been paying any attention to where I was walking. Not until, at least, I hit into what felt like a hard brick wall. I yelped as my ass was met with the gravel ground, my nose scrunching up in pain and embarrassment.

"Oh I'm so sorry." A red head suddenly appeared hovering over me, a look of concern in her bright blue eyes. "I wasn't watching where I was..."

She paused however, as her eyes narrowed and she stared down at me with the oddest expression. And then her fangs extended. My eyes grew wide as I realized she was a vampire. I didn't mean to feel scared, knowing that fear was what vampires lived off of, but I hadn't been expecting to run right into a vampire, literally. I gulped as I began scrambling away, hurrying to my feet and brushing off the dirt from my shorts.

"Y-you're a vampire." I breathed out, my eyes travelling over the red head. She didn't appear to be much older than a teenager, but then again, Godric didn't look all that much older but he was really two thousand years old. Looks could be deceiving in the vampire world. I found it odd, however, to find her dressed in a Merlotte's uniform, much like the one Holly was wearing. Did she work here?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen. You just..." the red head stepped closer, her head tilting to the side. Her fangs didn't retract as she looked me over questioningly, and I knew right away she had smelt my scent. My intoxicating, sweet scent that alerted vampires right away to the fact that I wasn't human, not entirely anyways. "You smell good."

My heart was racing in my chest as I shot a quick glance at the lively bar. Even if I shouted for help, I doubt anyone would hear me. I looked next to my car, and while it was close enough I could run to it for safety, I knew this vampire could just outrun me.

"Why do you smell so strange?" the red head asked curiously, subconsciously licking her red painted lips.

"I think you should just put those things away." I shakily indicated to her fangs.

I was expecting her to attack me, to tear at my throat to drain me dry. But that's not what happened at all. In fact, her fangs did retracted, though there was a look of confusion in her blue orbs.

"I didn't...how did you..."

"I don't know?" I took another step back.

"You don't know." Her questioning stare relaxed, the vampire now appearing more dazed than hungry.

I raised an eyebrow and stared at her, and I mean really stared at her. Her once bright eyes now appeared dull, like she wasn't even all there. She stood there completely still, not moving an inch, and appeared deader than any vampire I had ever seen before. I took a risk and waved a hand in front of her face, and while I expected her to snap at me with her razor sharp incisors, that wasn't what happened at all. She was still perfectly still, almost frozen. Her eyes were glazed over, and that's when I knew what had happened.

"Oh holy shit." My eyes grew wide as I took a courageous step forward. "Did I seriously just...oh fuck."

I stood there for a moment, completely blown away by what I had done. I hadn't even been trying. The other times I had been able to order something from a vampire, I had been emotionally charged. I was being attacked the first time it had happened, and the first time with Godric I had been an emotional wreck. The last time with both Eric and Godric, I had been frustrated and annoyed. But tonight, while I had been spooked at first, there had been no charged emotions behind my commands. They had nearly been fearful suggestions. And she just followed them like I had glamoured her. She just stood there in a daze like I had taken over her completely.

And maybe I had.

"What's your name?" I asked, testing out exactly how much power I had over this vampire.

"Jessica." She answered in a monotone voice, her eyes not even blinking.

"Do you work here, Jessica?" I began circling the vampire, taking her in from all angles, ensuring that she was still trapped under whatever spell I had cast on her unknowingly. I felt both impressed and terrified at the same time. How had I been able to do this? Were my powers stronger than I initially thought, than any of us thought? That thought scared me. But it also surprisingly impressed me, to know that I had this power inside of me, this power that could do these impossible things.

"Yes."

"Oh wow." I shook my head in amazement. "This is sort of cool."

"This is anything but cool, Savannah."

My eyes grew as wide as saucers as I spun around, only to come face to face with both Eric and Godric. Godric stood a few feet behind Eric, a look of contemplation on his face while Eric just looked livid.

"What do you think you're doing?" Eric demanded.

"N-Nothing..."

"Nothing? This is not nothing, Savannah!" Eric motioned to Jessica's frozen form. "What the hell did you do to her?"

"I didn't mean to do it." I tried to reason with him. "We bumped into each other, and she noticed I smelt different and her fangs came out. I was a bit spooked and told her to put her fangs away, not thinking that she would, but then she did."

"And how exactly did she become...this." Eric stared at Jessica for a moment before shaking his head and glaring down at me.

"I don't know. Honestly, I don't." I looked over to Godric for help. "Really, Godric. I didn't...I didn't mean to take control of her. I don't even know how it happened. You have to believe me."

"I do." Godric nodded, though there was a frown on his face. "Jessica is still a newborn vampire. She's very young, very newly undead. I imagine it would be easier to control the freshly made than it would be to control someone as old as Eric and I."

"Which would explain how I could raise the vampire out of the ground." I nodded.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you have Bill's progeny under your control. Fix it. Now." Eric growled.

My eyebrows shot up into my hairline. "She's Bill's progeny? Oh shit, I didn't know."

"Is there any way you can...end this?" Godric asked much more nicely than Eric had.

"I...I don't know. I can try?" I glanced back at Jessica before sighing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

"It's alright, Savannah." Godric offered a small smile.

I nodded in return before finding myself back in front of the red head. I inhaled sharply before catching her gaze, staring deeply into those blue orbs.

"Jessica, I want you to be released from my control." I glanced over her shoulder to where Eric and Godric stood, the latter nodding at me in encouragement. "But I don't want you to remember this ever happening. You're just going to walk right on into Merlotte's like nothing happened."

"It's like she's glamouring her." Eric muttered to Godric, though I heard it clear as day.

"I don't know how to stop it." I ignored Eric's comment.

"Just concentrate, Savannah. Will it to happen. Just focus." He instructed.

I closed my eyes, shaking out my arms as I tried to concentrate on my hold on Jessica. I imagined it to be like links in a chain. My hold on her was connected by those links, by the chain being whole. And then I imagined those links falling away from one another, breaking the connection, breaking the hold I had on her. And just like that, I felt a gust of wind blowing my hair back, my eyes opening to find that the red haired vampire was now nowhere to be found. I let out a sigh of relief, my shoulders slumping forward as I glanced back over at my two vampires.

"So, I think I believe you now. I really do think I'm a necromancer."