Chapter Thirty Five:

Eric paced before the apartment building, deciding whether or not to return to his penthouse suite and face Savannah. Her accusations still angered him. Her doubt still brought rage to his heart. How dare she think that he didn't love her? How dare she bring up Sookie's name. Sookie meant nothing to him. She was gone. She was dead for all they knew. He loved Savannah now. He never had loved anyone else in the first place. Savannah was the only one he had ever let himself think about for hours on end, the only one he obsessed about to the point that he had kidnapped her just to keep her all to himself. And now he was sharing her with his maker, sharing her in a way he never would have shared anyone like her before. She wasn't just another notch on his belt. She wasn't just any other woman to him. He had thought he had proven that to her when he admitted he loved her, when he didn't run away when his better judgement had told him to the minute this triumvirate had been formed. But he had stuck at her side, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Why couldn't she just see that?

But the anger he held for Savannah was nowhere near the anger that was bubbling inside of him from the conversation he had with Bill. He wanted nothing more than to find the King of Louisiana and kill him, to murder him with his own hands. Who did he think he was to march into his bar and threaten his human? Bill may be king, and may hold the authority over him. But he was a thousand years old, he was a Viking. He could rip Bill's head off with a mere flick of his wrist. And he so wanted to.

However, he knew what would happen if he even laid a single hand on Bill. He knew that Savannah's life would be in danger; he knew that no matter what he did, what he decided, that everything would be put at risk. He couldn't just let her infiltrate those witches, not defenceless like she was. She had nearly died last night, and that had been at a distance. If she were in the same room as Marnie and the coven, he could only imagine what could happen to his Savannah. And he couldn't let that happen. Because he loved her. He did. He cared for her in a way he never thought possible. He had thought love was a weakness, that emotions were useless and a sign of weakness. But he had been wrong, he had been so wrong. She brought out feelings that he had thought were long lost. She brought out a side of him that not even as a human did he allow into the open. She was so much different than anyone he had every met before in his long life. He couldn't just let it end now because of Bill and those witches. He had vowed to protect her at all costs. He just wasn't sure how yet he could do that without digging a bigger whole for them to lie in.

"My son?" his maker's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Eric sighed as he ran a hand through his slicked back hair and came to a stop before his maker as he landed before him outside of the apartment building. "Is everything alright, I was just coming to look for you."

"I'm fine." Eric muttered, trying to mask his flared emotions. He knew it was useless however. Godric had always seen through his lies, even when he had shielded from him over the centuries. Godric knew him better than anyone ever did in his life, both as a human and as a vampire. He was his maker; his blood ran through his veins. Even more so now than ever before, they were one. Eric couldn't just hide from Godric any longer; he couldn't run and hope to never be caught. Not anymore.

"You and I both know that's a lie." Godric tilted his head to the side, his own expression masked as he tried to hide his pain. He was better at it than Eric. He was better at hiding his past, his emotions. Or at least he thought he had been. He had uncharacteristically let those walls down while he had been with Savannah, while he had been swimming in ecstasy with the woman he loved. And now she knew the monster that he truly was. Now she realized why he had hidden so much from her. "What's wrong?"

"You're not so great at lying yourself tonight." Eric slipped his hands into his pockets as he peered down at his maker. There was something different, something wrong. He couldn't place his finger on it, and the further he pushed at their bond, the more solid the wall became between them. "You weren't going to come after me, were you?"

"Of course I was." Godric held Eric's gaze, not even blinking. "You're my child. I could feel your anger. I was worried."

"Were you? Or were you just tired of fucking Savannah?" Eric couldn't help himself from spitting out.

Godric sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "She's ours, Eric. This isn't the time for some pointless jealous argument. I offered to give her to you completely and you were adamant that you didn't want that. We can't just go back to how things used to be. Not after everything we've gone through."

"I know, I know." Eric ran a hand down his face in exhaustion. They had only awoken a few hours ago and already he wished to fall back into a dead rest. "I'm just frustrated."

"About what? Savannah doesn't mean what she says, Eric. She loves you, she does." Godric tried to reassure him.

"I know. But that's not what I'm frustrated over." Eric stared long and hard down at his maker, hoping he could make sense of this new threat. "It's Bill that I want to murder."

"What has Mr. Compton done now?" Godric raised an eyebrow.

"He knows."

"He knows what?"

"He knows about her, Godric. He knows what she is. He knows all about her. I don't know how, but he fucking knows, Godric." Eric spat, his anger consuming him even worse the longer he thought about the threats that had been made. He wanted to destroy Bill, to cause him misery for this. He was threatening to take away the only woman he's ever loved. Eric would make sure Bill paid for this. "But that's not it, Godric. He's threatening her, all of us."

Godric felt as if the world was at a standstill as Eric retold what had only just happened at Fangtasia. He felt numb. Their Savannah was being threatened. He had lived long enough to know what had come to necromancers in the old world. They had been burned at the stake, killed without even being questioned. Vampires were frightened of the only being in the world that could control them. So they took care of the problem. The first mention of a living necromancer and Godric knew what the authority would do. And they couldn't take that risk. They couldn't just hand Savannah over to those cruel monsters that wouldn't care that Savannah was just an innocent girl. They would kill her in an instant without remorse.

"I don't know what to do, Godric." Eric sounded helpless as he let those walls fall down from around him, looking to his maker for help, seeking his advice. "Tell me what to do."

"There's not much we can do, my son." Godric sighed, shaking his head as he sadly gazed up at his progeny. "We have no other choice."

I was pacing the length of the living room, muttering to myself under my breath nervously when the chiming of the elevator doors opening froze me to the spot. My heart nearly stopped as I twisted on my heel and turned to watch as the doors slowly opened, as if torturing me, and revealed both of my vampire lovers. My heart started then, the organ pounding painfully in my chest as I felt beads of sweat dancing on my forehead. The moment Godric had left the apartment, I had been anxiously awaiting his return. I wasn't expecting both Eric and Godric to return together however. It was almost as if they were teaming up on me and I wasn't prepared at all. Instead of feeling confident and ready to ease Godric's worries that I would no longer love him because of what I saw, I was left standing looking like a nervous idiot, my hands fidgeting, my eyes darting every which way as if not making eye contact would help anything.

Of course, my big fat mouth had no qualms about blurting out whatever was on my mind, no matter how many butterflies were fluttering away in my stomach.

"I'm sorry." Were the first two words out of my mouth the moment the vampires stepped out of the elevator and into the penthouse. "I'm really really sorry."

Eric kept that frowning masked expression on his face while Godric allowed a hint of what he was feeling to show. I saw the pain, the shame in those sea coloured orbs and it just broke my heart. I hadn't meant to hurt him when I flinched away. I had just been too shocked, to surprised at what I had seen to think about what I was doing. And that had cost me.

"I'm sorry for how I reacted Godric. I didn't mean to see your memories, it just happened. And I was just extremely shocked that it happened and at what I saw that I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry I flinched away from you. I'm sorry I didn't know what to say. I was just surprised, that's all. It wasn't even really about your memories. I knew what you were like back then, I knew you weren't always this saint. You've reminded me time and time again. I was just...I mean, I saw your memories. That's not exactly a normal thing, Godric. And I know we have this bond now, this triumvirate that has bound us together in this really fucked up way. I just wasn't expecting that. So I'm really really really really really sorry."

I had to catch my breath after the rant that had been blurted from my lips. My chest was heaving as I risked a glance at the vampire, hoping he didn't hate me, hoping that I had been able to rid that look from his eyes. And it seemed like I must have, because a small amused smile began crossing his lips as he stepped forward, raising his hand as if to stop me from continuing.

But I wasn't entirely done, not yet.

He wasn't the only vampire I needed to apologize to. Sure, I was still curious about Sookie, I still had my doubts that she had just been nothing to him. But maybe now wasn't the time to accuse Eric of anything. Maybe I shouldn't have brought the issue up at all. Maybe I was just being insecure about the whole thing. I knew that was partly true. I was insecure. Because it seems like this girl had captured Eric's heart. If that wasn't true, then great. But I still wasn't so sure that I could believe what Eric continued to try and persuade me to believe. However, right now, we shouldn't be arguing, we shouldn't be fighting. We had bigger problems on our hands. Like the witches that had nearly killed me last night. And the fact that my mother was going to kill me once she realized I hadn't been home all day.

"I'm sorry about my accusations, Eric." I turned my attention onto the taller vampire. He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest as he sent me a scrutinizing stare. It only nerved me further, but I continued nonetheless. If I didn't say this now, then I never would have the courage too. I just wanted a clean slate, for us to be happy again. "I have my issues, alright? I'm human, we get insecure and jealous. I'm not going to apologize for that because honestly, Eric, I love you so much that I'm just scared that some other girl is going to come along and steal you away from me. And that thought scares the hell out of me. So I'm not sorry for being worried about the other women in your life, past and present. But I am sorry for how I went about asking you, for doubting that you don't love me. I know that you do. You wouldn't have done all of this for me if you hadn't of loved me. So I'm sorry for pushing you away like that. "

A sigh sounded from his lips, his tough exterior cracking as his arms fell back down to his sides, his head bowing as if he couldn't look me in the eye.

"Please don't be mad at me. Please. I'm sorry, I really am." I hesitantly stepped forward, wishing I could just reach out and make him believe me. "You have to believe that."

"I do." he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And that just makes this harder to say."

"What are you talking about?" I questioned in confusion.

"I'm so sorry, Savannah." He finally raised his gaze, his blue orbs holding so much sorrow as they met mine.

"Sorry about what?" I had this horrible, gut wrenching feeling deep down inside. Something was wrong. I hadn't noticed it until now, but the looks on their faces when they first stepped into the apartment, it wasn't because of the fights we had, the pain I had caused. It was because something had happened. "What are you sorry about, Eric?"

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to tell you..."

"Do you think she's alright?" Godric's voice was hushed as he peeked around the corner in the hallway, peering into the living room where they had left Savannah to digest everything.

"She was just told that she's going to have to infiltrate the same witches that nearly killed her last night. Of course she's not alright." Eric rolled his eyes, his arms crossing as he leaned against the opposite wall. "She's the furthest thing from alright. Can't you feel it?"

"I think I'm shielding too hard. I can't feel much from her." Godric frowned, trying to loosen the walls he had built up around himself the moment he had left the apartment earlier. He hadn't wanted Savannah to slip back into his memories, for her to see his sorrow. The moment he let his walls began to slip however, he could feel a rush of emotions that he knew wasn't coming from either himself or his progeny. The fright ate away at him to the point that it was nearly painful. He wished he could comfort her, to take her in his arms and promise that everything was going to be alright. But he couldn't make that promise. Because he wasn't so sure everything was going to be alright. "She's so scared."

"Of course she is." Eric's eyes narrowed as he thought about the reason behind her fear. "I want to rip him to pieces for this. If anything happens to her..."

"We can't let anything happen to her." Godric turned to face his progeny. "We've promised her time and time again to protect her. And what good has that done? We need to keep that promise this time."

"We shouldn't let her do this. It's too dangerous, too risky." Eric straightened, pushing away himself from the wall and growing closer to the doorway. He peeked into the room and it broke his still heart to see the broken form of the woman he loved just sitting on the couch in the same position they had left her in. she hadn't moved, the only sign of life at all was the beating heart he could hear loud as day.

"As much as I agree with you, we don't have much of a choice unfortunately." Godric ran a hand throw his short hair. "If we don't agree to this, if Savannah doesn't go through with this, then Bill will go to the Authority. And we know that they'll kill her and ask questions later."

"By law they can't hurt her. She's my claimed human." Eric pointed out.

"I don't think they'll care whose human she is." Godric sighed. "She can't defend herself if they come for her. She barely understands her powers."

"So how is she going to defend herself against the witches?" Eric argued, his forehead wrinkling in anger. "She was almost killed from a distance because they were harnessing her power. What's going to happen when she's right there with them? I won't let them hurt her. I won't."

"I understand that, Eric. Do you think I want this either?" Godric shook his head. "But what else can we do?"

"I don't know. But I'll think of something." Eric grumbled. "I won't just send her out there to die."

Godric couldn't disagree with his stubborn child; he felt the same way. He didn't want to send Savannah to those witches. They had harmed her from a distance. Eric was right, what could they do to her once she was in that circle, joined in their incantations? She'll be defenceless, with no way to protect herself. They could help her through their triumvirate from a distance, but they weren't even sure that could help her. Only skin to skin contact had brought Savannah back to them last night. They couldn't do that from a distance.

But there was one thing they could do.

"We need to train her."

"What?" Eric raised an eyebrow, shooting his maker a confused look.

"She needs to learn more about her abilities. She's strong, Eric. She's powerful and magnificent. But she doesn't know how to control the magic inside of her. So let's make sure she does know how to. If she can fight back against the other witches, then she'll be able to protect herself better."

"Or we could just not let her go at all."

"Either way, Eric, she's going to be put into danger. At least this way we can control the circumstance. We can teach her, help train her. It's what she's wanted from the beginning, before everything crumbled apart. We can do this for her. It may just be what saves her." Godric reasoned.

"How can we help her when we hardly know a thing about what she can do?"

"We have literature now." Godric pointed out. "I've learned some interesting pieces of information that I think will help us."

"And how exactly will we do that?" Eric didn't look convinced.

"I think it's time we revisit a cemetery."

"Is there a reason we're standing in a cemetery." I shuddered, wrapping my arms around myself. It was summer in Louisiana, and yet it felt like a chilly fall day. Goosebumps had risen on my arms and I just couldn't stop shaking. But I knew it was because I was standing in a cemetery and not due to the weather.

"We told you, we're going to help you understand your abilities better." Godric explained, offering a small encouraging smile that did nothing to stop my shaking.

"But in a cemetery?"

"You do specialize in the dead after all." Eric pointed out with an eye roll, dropping a bag down onto the ground beside the grave Godric had dragged me to. I tried not to pay attention to my surroundings, and especially not to the grave before me. I could already feel the whispered calls of the dead. I could already feel the tug at my power. Only this time it felt different. It felt more intoxicating than before. It felt as if this magnificent power was coursing through my veins rapidly the stronger the voices became. Like instead of the touch of death wrapping its cold dead hand around me and controlling me, I was the one able to control it. And it felt wonderful.

"What's in the bag?" I tried to distract myself.

"Supplies we'll need." Godric stepped forward, his hand rubbing up and down my arms, bringing warmth back to my body. A small sigh escaped my lips, feeling more grounded the moment he touched me. But I also felt that spark of power too. It didn't amount to much, but I could feel it, deep within myself. He was part of the dead too, after all. "We'll be here the entire time, Savannah. We won't let anything happen to you, I promise you. You wanted to learn how to control your powers months ago. Well this is what you have to do."

"Isn't there some other way? What exactly are we going to do anyways?" I asked warily.

"You're going to communicate back." Godric informed simply as if he was talking about the weather and not about talking with the dead.

"I'm sorry; I don't think I heard you right. What did you just say?"

"You can hear them, can't you? I can feel it, Savannah, more than even before. I can feel what you're feeling. You're not even attempting to shield from Eric and I."

"So?" I shrugged.

"So communicate back." Godric raised a hand to cup my cheek. "We need to test what you can do. We need for you to be able to control your powers so when you join the coven, you can fight back if you need to."

"How is being able to communicate with some dead spirit going to help anything? And I thought only mediums could do that? I'm a necromancer. We just control the dead, isn't that what you told me?" I sighed in exasperation. "Can we please just leave?"

"You like it." Eric gave his two cents worth. "I can feel it, Savannah. You like what you're feeling right now. You like that you have control, that instead of feeling like some puppet to the dead, that you have even a tiny bit of control."

I frowned, knowing he was right. "Well then why do I have to do this if I already have some sort of control?"

"It's because we're here with you. Our power, our bond, it strengthens our individual strengths. And your strength just happens to be with the dead." Godric brushed a strand of hair back behind my ear. "Trust us, Savannah. We wouldn't have you do this if it wasn't important. If you can learn how to control one aspect of your magic, then you can learn to control it all. Baby steps. We're here tonight because this is how your magic responds the best."

I knew he was right. I knew both he and Eric were right. I did need to do this, to learn more about my abilities to be able to control them. I was just scared. The last time I was standing in a cemetery, I had accidentally raised a vampire from its grave before it was even supposed to awaken. And before that, I've seen images of deaths that I never in my life wanted to witness. It was frightening. And now Godric just wanted me to communicate with one, to give myself over to what I was so desperately trying to fight about myself.

But it would only be a matter of days before I would have to walk into that magic shop and join the coven. It would only be a matter of days before I would have to do Bill's dirty work just to save my own ass. And if I went there without a hint of defence, then what happened the other night was going to happen again. And I wasn't so sure it would end the same way.

"Okay." I whispered finally with a heavy sigh. "Just tell me what I have to do."

"From my readings, I've learned some interesting piece of information about necromancers, about what exactly they can and cannot do." Godric explained, moving towards the black bag Eric had dropped at the foot of the grave we were standing before. He knelt down and unzipped the bag before reaching in and pulling out a silver dagger. My eyes grew wide as I took a step back, my heart leaping in my chest out of fright.

"W-what are you going to do with that?"

Godric carefully handled the dagger, holding onto the leather bound handle as he drew it downwards and nearly out of sight as if he knew just how frightened I was. And he did know.

"Blood is the key, as it is with most sources of magic." Godric informed, stepping forward, the dagger still in his hand at his side. "It acts as a sacrifice, as a way for the power of one being to be transferred to another. It's why I think you have such a strong reaction to vampire blood. And how the triumvirate was formed. We both drank from you that night. We both tasted your blood. A single taste was all it took for our bond to be created. Blood from any being, especially magic, is very special, Savannah."

"Why exactly do we need my blood right now though?" I took another step back, only for the backs of my legs to knock into a headstone. My eyes grew wide as that familiar feeling began to overcome me. I could feel my consciousness being tugged at by the dead, and to be exact, the teenage girl who rested just beneath that tombstone. My vision began to blur, my form shaking almost violently. I knew what was going to happen next, I knew I was going to be thrown into the last remaining minutes of this girl's life. And I didn't want that. I didn't want to see more death.

I was more than relieved when Eric suddenly grabbed me by the arm, whipping me away from the headstone and back closer to where Godric stood. We huddled there in the cemetery, Eric's hands holding on my arms as Godric's hand reached for mine. The moment the three of us were touching, it was as if I had a clear head, like the tug the girl once had on me had just vanished, been run away by our bond and shared power. I sighed out of relief, my racing heart calming.

"A blood circle." Godric was the first to speak. "It will act as protection. It will keep out any unwanted visitors and evil, and will keep in what you wish to keep safe."

I inhaled and exhaled slowly a few times before turning my gaze onto Godric. "A blood...circle? With my blood?"

"With all of our blood." Godric corrected. "We share blood now, Savannah. My blood runs through both you and Eric, and vice versa. We are one. You're not in this alone anymore, my love."

"And it'll keep from something like that from happening while I'm in this blood circle?"

"If what I've read is correct, you shouldn't hear a single whisper from any spirit of the dead except for the one you're meaning to hear." He squeezed my hand. "Are you ready?"

"No." I admitted, looking up at Eric for direction. When he nodded, squeezing my arms affectionately, I felt a little bit better, like I wasn't alone just as Godric had said. They were here with me, acting as my support as I embarked on this new journey, one I was still uncertain I wanted to take. "But I don't really have much of a choice in the matter. This is what I am, it's who I am. I can't be afraid of myself, can I?"

"We're right here, Savannah. We'll always be right here." Eric assured, leaning forward and brushing his lips against my forehead. "You can do this. We believe in you."

I could only nod, jumping into the deep end with both feet. I needed to do this, no matter how scared I might be. "Let's do this."

Everything felt like a blur. After a few minutes of talking myself into it, I hesitantly gave Godric my arm. He looked me in the eye the entire time he brought the silver dagger to my arm. I squeezed my eyes shut and as quickly as he could, he dug the dagger into my arm, ripping it down a few good inches before the blood began to flow freely. I whimpered from the pain, tears forming in eyes. I tried to remain strong however, as I felt Godric lead me onto the grave. My eyes flashed open the moment Godric squeezed my arm, the blood flowing even faster now. I bit down hard on my bottom lip to keep from crying out. Godric must have known the pain I was in as he sent me a sympathetic look before tugging me around a third of the grave, my blood dropping down onto the grassy ground before he pulled us to a stop.

"Eric?" Godric called to the tall Viking before slicing his tongue with his now extended fangs before licking at my bleeding wound. I felt lightheaded from the blood loss, and knew just closing the wound wouldn't help. But the power I was feeling from standing there in the cemetery, it was enough to keep me standing on my own two feet.

"Wait." My eyes grew open as I watched Eric offer his arm to his maker. "It's silver. It's going to..."

"A regular knife won't bleed us like it would bleed you." Godric explained.

"But the pain..." I tried to reason.

"It'll only last for a few minutes." Eric assured with a nod.

I tried to argue, but Godric had sliced the dagger down Eric's arm before I could. I yelped as a strangled grunt sounded from Eric's lips, the vampire trying desperately not to cry out. He wasn't just bleeding. The skin around the wound was sizzling from the silver, as if he was burning. I had to look away as he squeezed the blood from his arm and walked around another third of the grave. There was only one vampire left, one little part of the grave and then the circle would be complete.

"Eric, stand with Savannah on the grave." Godric ordered as he pushed up the sleeves of his grey cotton sweater and poised the dagger over his arm. "Once the circle is complete, nothing will be able to enter or leave until it's broken."

"And you know how to break the circle, right?" I asked worriedly.

Godric merely nodded before cutting his own arm. He barely even flinched, showing his age and strength as he walked the rest of the way around the grave, his blood meeting the ground just as Eric's and mine had. He made sure to keep himself inside of the circle the entire time, and the moment his last drop of blood met with the start, with my blood, it felt like a sudden force field was created around us. Both Eric and Godric gasped as a sudden surge of power poured through us. I, however, couldn't stand on my own two feet, my legs collapsing beneath me as I felt the brunt of the magic. It was almost overwhelming. With all of our blood protect us, connected together in a mystical way, I almost felt invincible. There was so much power, so much magic coursing through my veins that I felt like I could do anything, like there was no task too big for me to complete. It was both amazingly wonderful and terrifying at the same time.

"Savannah?" Eric was at my side, his voice full of worry as I fought to blink away the darkness seeping into my vision.

"I-I'm fine." I gasped out. "I just...it was...oh god."

"We can feel it too." Godric nodded, laying his hand on my shoulder. "Only this is your power, your magic creating this Savannah. It's stronger for you than it is for us."

"This feels...I can't even explain it." I inhaled sharply. "This is...incredible."

"We should do what we came here to do." Eric hurried us along. "As great as this might feel, everything comes at a price."

I nodded, knowing he was right. Nothing was free, even if we had just given our blood to create this circle. Though I wasn't so sure I wanted it to end. Not yet anyways.

"Concentrate on the body that rests beneath us, Savannah. Concentrate on the remnants of the soul that lies within this grave. Call to them."

I closed my eyes and tried to do as he said. I rested my plans flat on the ground, and the moment I did, I felt another rush of power. It wasn't from the circle however, and instead, it was from the body that was resting not so peacefully beneath us. It wasn't a warm and fuzzy feeling however; it was one of fright, one of fear. I tried to pull back as this new feeling began to consume me, as it battled against the wonderful rush of magic until dread, sadness and anger filled my entire being. It was as if I was acting as a vessel for this spirit, for the soul that lay restless in the body of the dead. I felt it calling to me, not the other way around, and I fought to gain that control back. But I couldn't. I felt completely lost and alone.

A whimper sounded, and it took me a moment to realize that it had come from me.

"Shh, we're here, lover." Eric whispered in my ear, laying his hand over mine. Godric did the same until we were all connected.

That was all it took. The moment both Eric and Godric were touching me, I felt free of the sadness, of the angst. I could still feel that soul, it was as if I could feel it just beneath my fingertips, but it wasn't controlling me. I was controlling it. I willed it forward; I called to the spirit of the dead. Words I never knew to say came blurting out of my lips, as if someone was whispering them to me.

"I call on you, restless soul. With my blood, with my magic, I call on you. Come to me."

It was as if a movie was playing before me. I was completely aware of the world around me, unlike the last few times this had happened. I could even see, feel and hear what was happening in the cemetery. But I was also completely aware of what I was seeing. It wasn't just the last few minutes of some horrifying death however. It was an entire lifespan. I watched as a young baby boy was held by two happy parents. I watched as the boy grew, running around flying a kite in the cloudless blue sky. I watched as the boy became a teenager, gazing at girls longingly. I watched as the boy became a man on his wedding day, having a little boy of his own. I watched as the man suffered a heart attack while walking to work, dying there on the sidewalk completely alone. I watched as he took his last breath, not even his wife or son at his side.

I understood now, why these spirits, why these souls were so restless. They had been alone. They had been completely and utterly alone. There had been no one there as this man died. There had been no one but a horrible man there when that boy had been murdered. There had been not a single person around as that sick girl died from her illness. All these souls desired was recognition. They wanted to know that they were no longer alone. And because of me, they weren't. Because I was able to witness their last moments, watch their live flash before my eyes, they can find peace, to know that as they truly leave this world, they aren't alone.

I had been so lost in my thoughts, so lost in the lives of the many souls I had set free without even know it, that I hadn't even realized I had been crying until a sob escaped my lips. Both Eric and Godric wrapped their arms around me, Eric rubbing my back as I laid my forehead against Godric's shoulder. I wasn't crying in pain, in sadness at the deaths I had seen. I was crying out of happiness, out of relief for these lost souls that had only just wanted to be sent home, to find peace finally. And I had been the cause of that; I had been the one to help them.

"What did she see, Godric? Why is she crying?" Eric questioned.

"She's not crying out of sadness, Eric." Godric whispered, stroking my hair. "Don't you see? She's finally realizing the gift she had been given."

"I don't understand."

"She's setting them free. The souls, she's setting them free, coaxing them to the other side. She's bringing them peace." He explained.

"And she's crying?" Eric was puzzled, not understanding human emotions at all.

"I'm human." I managed out. "We cry over everything."

"Well that much I've figured out." he mumbled, his lips pressing against the back of my neck. "Just as long as you're alright I'll forgive you just this once."

I couldn't help but smile. The last few nights had been such a rollercoaster of emotions. So much had happened. There had been so many changes, so much pain and happiness that I couldn't comprehend. There had been arguments, things that never should have been said or seen. And now this. My powers, the abilities that had been thrust onto me were finally making sense. I may have still had my doubts about Sookie, I may still be scared out of my mind about the witches, but to know that I finally understood even a fraction of my powers, it made everything seem just a tiny bit better. And I had these two to thank for that.

Once again, they had swept in and made me feel more whole than I ever thought was possible. I just prayed that this triumvirate, this bond that we shared, wouldn't be torn apart from something silly like a broken heart.