Chapter Thirty Six:

"This is as far as I can go." Godric gently tugged me to a stop as we came to the corner.

We had only waked a handful of feet from my parked car before we couldn't go any further. I could feel the magic littering the air from Moon Goddess Emporium, and knew it was the reason Godric had to stop. It wasn't the same magic I remembered the first time I had come across the magic shop, however. Instead of the magic filling me with happiness, making me feel complete, it now invoked fear. Something was different, something in this spell, whatever it could be, was darker.

"What is it?" I wondered, frowning as I stared down the block to where the shop sat.

"It's a keep away spell." Godric explained, a frown on his own handsome boyish face. "It's typical for witches, for any supernatural being, to have a spell put in place to keep anyone unwanted at a distance."

"How come Fangtasia doesn't have anything like that."

Godric turned to stare down at me. "It does."

"It does?" I raised an eyebrow. "How did I not know about this?"

"Because you were never someone Eric wanted to keep away." Godric reached a hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "A spell like this will act almost like magical disease to the unwanted. I can feel it even here. It's like poison eating away at my skin. Any further, and I'm almost afraid of what it'll do to me. This is strong magic, darker then even what Fangtasia uses."

"I'm really not liking this." I sighed, gazing down the street fearfully. "Are you sure you can't go in there with me? This would be so much easier if we just kill them all. Guns blazing and all, you know?"

Godric chuckled softly. "I think that would defeat the purpose of you infiltrating the coven."

"Who came up with that idea anyways? It's horrible." I scrunched my nose up.

"Weren't you the one who wished to do this not too long ago?" he raised an eyebrow in reminder.

"That was before they nearly killed me." I shrugged. "Now I'm perfectly fine with staying far far away from them."

"Unfortunately, my love, that can't be." Godric sighed with a shake of his head. "I wish I could keep you far away from these witches, but I cannot."

That frown returned on my lips. "I know. Bill and your vampire authority will kill me." I shuddered. "And you and Eric and that's the last thing I want."

"Eric and I will do everything in our power to ensure that never happens." There was a fiery determination in his sea coloured orbs that gave me an odd warm and fuzzy feeling.

I forced on a smile. "I know you guys will protect me. I just wish there was some other way. What if I can't..."

His fingers danced up my bare arms, goose bumps rising on my skin as I shuddered at his touch. "You can do this, my love."

"Let's be realistic here, Godric."

"You are a magnificent being, Savannah. Believe in yourself."

I bowed my head with a sigh. "That's the problem."

I felt fingers clasp under my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his. The backs of his fingers caressed my cheek as he held my chin firmly, his piercing orbs boring into mine. "We've worked for hours on your shielding. All you have to do is protect yourself, your magic, from the other witches. You can do that."

"I'm not that great..."

"Stop doubting yourself." He took a step closer, closing the gap between us. My breath got caught in my throat, as it always did whenever I was this close to him. He was always able to elicit these reactions. My body ached for his; it did before we had even bonded. I think it knew, subconsciously, that first night we met. I was drawn to him, almost like fate had intervened. And now here we were.

"That's easier said than done, you know."

"How did you get yourself through Yale?" He pointed out logically. "How did you push yourself through four gruelling years, how did you make it to graduation?"

"I worked hard." I shrugged. "I've always worked hard. But that's school, that's different.

"You've worked hard at this, you have." Godric assured me. "Every single night you've been practicing with Eric and I. You can do this. Just shield. And if you ever need help, all you have to do is open our bonds. We'll always be here for you."

I shook my head. "Shield but don't shield. That's not exactly easy, Godric."

He had both of my cheeks cupped now, his lips ghosting over mine. "If anyone can do it, it'll be you, my love."

I couldn't find the words to speak. With him this close, all I wanted was to press myself against him, to feel him, all of him. He was distracting me, calming me without even me realizing it. And I loved him for it. He knew me better than I knew myself some days, and we had only known each other for a handful of months. But yet he knew just the right things to say and do to comfort me, to build me up when I was ready to flee. Godric really was perfect in every possible way.

"I just don't know, Godric."

"You'll never know until you try." His lips pressed themselves against mine for only the briefest of seconds before he pulled away, leaning his forehead against mine. "You're going to be late for the meeting."

"I could just not go, Bill will never know."

"He has eyes everywhere." Godric nodded behind me.

I glanced as casually over my shoulder as I could, though I couldn't help my mouth falling open in shock at catching sight of that familiar black SUV sitting only a block away from us. "Seriously, he has people spying on us?"

"Did you expect any less? He's keeping his men as close as they can get. They must feel the same effects of the spell as I do. Only those of true magical origin can carry on."

"So essentially, I really am the only one who can actually keep an eye on the witches." I groaned softly.

"You are." Godric nodded, his thumb brushing lightly over my lips. It took all the will power in the world to not let my knees give out on me. But he was making it incredibly difficult. All I wanted to do was to take Godric into a dark alley and rip all of his clothes off. "I know you're scared, I know you have your doubts. But know that you are never alone. Eric and I, we're always here for you, we're always a part of you."

I was touched at his words. "I know. You'll be right here afterwards, right?"

"We'll both be here the moment we know you're finished. "

I nodded, slowly peeling myself away from Godric so I could think straight. I ran a hand through my hair, another sigh escaping my lips before looking the vampire dead in the eye. "I just want you to know that I'll be demanding hot and wild sex tonight."

A rare smirk crossed Godric's lips, and I knew immediately where Eric had learned it from. "I don't think either of us will have any objections."

"Good." I couldn't help the small smile from gracing my lips. It was hard not to smile when I was thinking about Eric and Godric naked and ravishing me. "I love you."

"And I love you, Savannah Kingsley, with all of my heart. I always will, my sweet necromancer." His smirk transformed into a smile as he dipped forward, his lips once again meeting mine. This time I held our lips together, my hand rising to grip onto the front of his shirt to hold him in place. When we parted, against my wishes of course, there was a tint of pink on my cheeks and a look of lust in his eyes. "I will be awaiting the rest of the evening with great desire."

"You and me both." I patted his cheek lovingly before taking a giant step back. If we kept this up, Bill's spies would be reporting back to him that I never made it to the coven meeting because I ended up having wild monkey sex with my lover in the middle of the street. Somehow I just didn't think he would appreciate that. "Well here goes nothing."

Neither of us spoke another word, only shared glances as he nodded me down the street. I closed my eyes for a moment, shook out my arms, collected my thoughts, before focusing on that magic shop. I stared a hole right through the building before taking my first step forward. I may have felt self conscious, I may not have been as confident in my abilities as Godric seemed to be. But I knew he was right. I had to believe in myself. If I didn't, then Marnie and the others would tap into my magic, and what belonged to me would be theirs. And after the last time, I really didn't want a repeat. So I had to focus, I had to pull myself together and just believe that I could do this, even if there was a small part of me that still had its doubts. Right now, doubts just couldn't exist.

"I can do this." I breathed out under my breath. "I can do this."

I couldn't do it.

The moment I had stepped into that shop, I could feel those strengthened walls begin to crack. I tried so desperately to protect myself from those witches, and at the beginning, I had been able to. Just standing in the same room with all of that thick magic littering the air I breathed, I was able to keep myself together. But once the circle was formed, once the candles were lit, and the moment our hands were clutched together, I lost all control. The only thing I could do, to protect whatever I possibly could, was to shield as strongly as I could from Eric and Godric. I knew they had felt my pain, my loss the last time these witches had nearly stripped me of my powers. And the last thing I wanted was for either of them to get hurt. So I kept those bonds as closed off as best as I could.

But all that strength cost me.

And it didn't help that Marnie insisted that I sit next to her, that we join hands, that we share one another's energies. I tried every possible excuse that I could to keep far away from her, but she seemed to have sensed my hesitance and just kept persisting to the point that I couldn't resist. My only anchor was Holly on my other side, her magic pure and of good intention. Anytime I could feel that magic slipping away from me, my strength following suit, I could lean on her, metaphysically, and I found what little strength I could to fight back against Marnie and the rest of the coven.

They had grown in strength.

I think Bill, unfortunately, did have a reason to worry about these witches. For now, they practiced harmless spells. We flickered a few candles, praised some goddesses, and even recited an incantation for a cool spell to wash over Louisiana to find refuge from the insufferable heat. There was nothing dark and terrible in those spells.

But it wasn't the spells that I was worried about.

It was Marnie.

She had an eagerness to learn, to practice, to use magic for more than what nature desired. And that worried me. I had a feeling that she would be more than willing to dabble into darker spells, and that scared me. While I hated being here, hated Bill for blackmailing me into doing this, a part of me knew it had to be done. Because if we just left Marnie and the coven alone, who knows what could happen.

However, the toll one mere coven meeting took on my body, was enough to make me wish I wasn't the sucker who had to be that spy, to be the one to keep these witches on the straight and narrow. I had all but run out of the shop the moment the meeting was dismissed. It was more of a stumble, though, a stumble that left me nearly falling over halfway down the sidewalk as I tried to get as far from the building as possible. I was gasping for breath, not taking a moment to calm myself down, to collect what was left of myself. I was just concerned with getting the hell out of there.

I was so caught up with getting away, with finding safety, with searching for a source of strength, that I never once opened that bond with my vampires. I should have. I knew I should have. They would have been here within seconds. And until then, the comfort of their blood flowing through me would have been enough. But I couldn't. Even as I thought about it, I just couldn't find the strength. It was taking all that I had just to keep upright, and even that was faltering by the minute. I hated myself for being so weak, for not being able to shield better, to protect myself like I should have.

I had somehow managed to stumble myself a couple blocks away when I first felt it. I couldn't see the source of what had pulled me to an abrupt stop, but I could certainly feel it. The drained beast inside of me suddenly perked to life, a low rumble rolling inside of me. I could feel it beneath my feet, almost a shake in the earth, a buzzing that vibrated through my entire body. My head snapped to either side, searching for the source of this sudden energizer. I wasn't so surprised to find myself not even half a block away from a cemetery. I almost breathed a sigh of relief. Because as terrifying as some of those cemetery visits had been, they had also brought me some of my greatest power reliefs.

And that's exactly what it was doing at that moment.

I felt the call of the dead as I took a step forward, a sigh of relief sounding from my lips. I had to lean against the low wall surrounding the cemetery, but the closer I got to the front gate, the better I was beginning to feel.

And by god, it felt incredible.

It was like the dead were moving beneath the earth, knowing I was there, knowing I was in need, and were calling to me, pulling me subconsciously to them. I didn't fight it. I didn't protest as I felt the familiar tugging at my consciousness, the numbness that began to take over my body as my feet travelled me into that very cemetery without my conscious knowledge. But I was completely alright with that. The dead gave me this boost of energy I couldn't explain. Just being here, being surrounded by the spirits of the past, of the souls that sung to my heart, it felt as if power was just pouring into me from every angle. Marnie and the coven may have latched onto my magic, onto my energy and strength for their mediocre spells and incantations, but the dead, they were returning to me what was lost.

When I did become conscious of my surroundings, I found myself deep inside the cemetery, not even close to where I had entered, and kneeling before a single grave. It was calling me to louder than the rest. It was singing to me. It was begging me to listen.

So I did.

In that moment, I forgot about what Godric had taught me. I forgot about our lesson in the cemetery not even days ago. I remembered nothing as I laid my palms flat against the grassy grave. Not a single drop of blood was spilt, not a single whispered word was spoken, and still, I could feel the spirit rising from beneath the ground, rising from the body I could feel just lying underneath where I knelt. That soul came to me, smashing right into me, nearly knocking me over.

And it felt fantastic.

It was like eating that giant chocolate bar you know you shouldn't have but just couldn't resist. It's like drinking that one last shot even though you know you're already drunk out of your mind. It's like the greatest love, the greatest feeling you could ever come to know, and yet you know could never be real. It was all of those things and more. I had never felt anything like it before. Never had the souls spoken to me in a way. Never had the dead surged through me like they had right now. Maybe it was because I had been so petrified in the past. Maybe it was because I was quick to shy away from what I was. But not tonight. Tonight, I embraced my necromancy, I embraced who and what I was.

Because it felt fucking great.

"Oh god." I moaned, my eyes nearly rolling into the back of my head as I finally managed to yank my hands off of the ground. It felt almost orgasmic the feeling that was coursing through my veins.

I don't even remember getting to my feet or walking halfway across the cemetery to the next grave. I barely even remember anything. I knew what was happening. I knew I was getting high off of the excess power. My strength had returned the moment I stepped into the cemetery, my magic returning just as quickly. And now, now I was just going overboard.

But I couldn't stop.

I didn't want to.

I had never felt this good before in my life. Sure, Eric and Godric could make me feel things I never thought were possible. But by god, this might have even been better. This was pure magic flowing through me, feeding my necromancy, feeding my desires and hungers. It was filling me in a way that I wanted to hold onto and never let it go. This might have been wrong, going from one grave to another, going from one helpless soul to another, but I just didn't care.

I wanted all of them, all of the dead. I needed it.

I was onto my third grave when I felt them, when I felt my other halves. They were there, somehow. I couldn't see them, I couldn't hear them. I was so lost in the power, in the magic that I could barely even keep track of what was going on. But I just knew they were there.

"Savannah?"

"You need to stop now."

"Savannah, can you hear us?

"Stop, my love, please you need to stop."

Their words meant nothing to me. I could hear them, and yet, they were meaningless. All I cared about were the dead. They were my friends, they were what completed me. All my life I had been searching for that one thing. I thought it had been Yale, and then New York. But low and behold, it was actually the dead. It was morbid and horrible. But it was the sad truth. This was a hidden part of me, my necromancy. And then I came into contact with Eric, and this whole other side of me was revealed. And I had hated it from day one. All I had wanted was to be normal finally.

But now, that train of thought had vanished.

I fucking loved being a necromancer.

"Come on Savannah, you need to stop this before you hurt yourself. Please, my love." Godric would plead

"We have to do something, Godric." Eric sounded worried, but it just didn't stick, it just didn't mean a single thing to me. "Look at her, I've...I've never seen anyone like this."

"She's drunk off of power." Godric sighed. "I'm just afraid of what that'll do to her."

I was nearing my fifth grave when the wind was knocked out of me. I struggled against the restraint holding my body down. I just wanted one more. Just one more soul, one more spirit to send on their merry way while I indulged in the magic they bathed me in.

"Let me go." My voice was not my own. It was low in desire, in need.

"I'm sorry, lover, but I can't do that." Eric hissed into my ear, his hands curling around my arms tightly. "You need to stop this before you get hurt."

"Let me go." I tried squirming, but there I was no match to his strength.

But I didn't need strength.

Not against the dead.

"Let. Me. Go." I growled out, pushing at that newfound magic, feeling it pulsing inside of me.

And just like that, the weight on top of me was gone. I scurried to my feet and was nearly at the next grave when once again, I could feel that weight on top of me. Only it felt different this time. I went to order to vampire off of me, but before I could, a hand slipped around my mouth firmly, refusing to let a single word utter from my lips.

"I'm sorry for this." Godric whispered into my ear. "But this is for your own good."

I mumbled behind his hand, squirming beneath his body. All I wanted was the power, the magic, everything I hadn't had before. But I couldn't get it. It was just at the tips of my fingers, but out of my reach at the same time.

In that moment, I felt hate towards Godric, towards Eric for trying to keep that from me. I knew it wasn't true hate. I knew it wouldn't last. But I wasn't thinking clearly, I was too high, too drunk off of power to possibly care.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered again before I heard the distinct click of his fangs descend. "Forgive me."

I struggled until those fangs sunk into my neck, into my pulsing vein. But it wasn't only pumping blood that he was drinking from me, that he was slurping from my body; it was magic, it was power, it was the essence that was flowing inside of me. I moaned and groaned, I cried out against the hand that was held firmly against my lips. It was mine. It was all supposed to be mine and he was stealing it from me.

Eventually, I could feel myself come down from the high, my consciousness beginning to slip away. The last thing I remembered before I was tugged into unconsciousness was the pair of lips kissing the curve of my now bloodied neck.

"Sleep well, my love."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Godric." Eric tried to assure his maker for the tenth time.

"I bit her. I rendered her unconscious. Of course I did something wrong." Godric paced the length of the bedroom, his head snapping to Savannah's prone figure every so often. "Why hasn't she woken up yet? She should be awake by now."

"It's only been a few hours." Eric shook his head, running his fingers through Savannah's thick auburn hair, tugging out any tangles he encountered. "She'll be fine, Godric. She was probably exhausted from the coven meeting and got a bit too drunk off all the power in the cemetery. If anything, she needs to sleep it off."

"But she should be awake." Godric chewed his bottom lip nervously, such a human trait that nearly made Eric chuckle in amusement. Godric may have been two thousand years old, but there was still that teenage boy inside of him somewhere.

"Calm, Godric." Eric lifted off the bed and went to his maker, laying a hand on his shoulder in comfort. "She'll wake when her body is ready to. You did nothing wrong. You stopped her before she could hurt herself. You stopped her when I couldn't. I was foolish to not realize that she could have controlled us without even trying."

Godric sighed heavily as he stared up at Eric before glancing at the bed. "I just want her to wake. I just...I need her to wake up."

"I know." Eric cupped Godric's cheek, leaning forward and placing a kiss on his forehead in a fatherly manner. "Everything will be alright, Godric, you'll see."

"Shh."

Both heads snapped to the side at the surprising sound from the bed. Godric was at Savannah's side before Eric could even blink, and he was on her other side seconds later. They waited, neither touching the girl, as her limbs began to twitch awake ever so slowly. First her fingers, then her toes, and then finally, her eyes began fluttering open.

"Savannah?" Godric was stroking her hair, resting one hand over her forehead as if checking for a fever. "My love?"

"So loud." The softest groan escaped her lips as her eyes opened, only to squeeze back shut.

"Godric, the light." Eric nodded at the overhead light. He may have not gotten drunk since he was human, but he remembered the illness well.

Godric had the light off and was back by Savannah's side before Eric could even finish his thought. He gazed at the worried look on his maker's face and he couldn't help but smile. He knew the moment he saw the two together that Godric loved her. He had denied it of course. And Eric had hated it in the beginning. But now, now that they both shared her, it brought him joy to see both of them happy with one another, to know that he was part of that happiness.

"My love? How are you feeling? I'm so sorry for..."

"Too loud." She moaned. "You apology is too loud."

Eric chuckled to himself, his smirk morphing into a smile.

"Your smirking is too loud. Shh, everyone."

"And this is what humans call a hangover." Eric commented in amusement, reaching a hand out to caress her cheek.

She slowly opened her eyes, only to turn her head to the right and glare at him. Moments later, however, she groaned, throwing her arm over her eyes. "Your face is too loud."

"I don't think that's possible lover."

"Yes."

"No."

"Shh, yes." She waved her hand at him.

Eric could only grin, glancing up at his frowning maker with an eye roll. "I think she'll be just fine, stop worrying Godric."

"Are you alright, Savannah? I'm sorry, I am." Godric found no amusement in the situation like Eric did. He was too focused on the girl before him, too focused on what he had done. "I only wanted to stop you before you could hurt yourself. I never meant to..."

"Stop." She groaned, raising her arm just enough to send him a small glance. "Your worrying hurts my head."

"Give the girl a break, Godric. She's fine."

"But I..."

"Godric." Eric sighed. "Stop."

"I can't stop. I bit her. I hurt her. I vowed I never would. I broke that promise and..."

"Please make him stop." Savannah pouted at Eric. "Head. Hurting. Ow."

Eric sent her a smile before sending Godric a pointed glance. "Look at her, she's cracking jokes. She's fine. I know your worried, Godric, but just stop and look at her. Listen to her. She's fine."

Godric sighed heavily, his orbs full of concern as they swept over Savannah. He searched her neck, and the sight of the red bite marks made his stomach churn. He immediately pricked his finger, rubbing his blood gently over the wounds. She hissed in pain, however, and pulled away from him and closer to Eric.

"Ow." She mumbled, her nose scrunching up.

"I'm sorry."Godric bowed his head sadly. "I'm so sorry."

"Can you smack him please?" She grumbled to Eric. "Really loud apologies. Ow. Pain. Head hurts. Why?"

"Your lack of sentences amuse me." Eric snickered. "You were drunk off of power, Savannah. It may not have been alcohol, but it's the same result."

"Hate."

"Will you two please take this a bit more seriously?" Godric grunted with a shake of his head. "Stop with your jokes. Do you not realize what could have happened?"

"Head. Hurts." Savannah grunted right back, slapping her hands over her ears. "Shh."

"Yeah Godric, her head hurts." Eric shot him a look before slipping his arms underneath her, lifting her off the bed. "I think a nice long bath is in order. What do you say, lover?"

"Shh."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"You're bleeding." I mused as I felt a thick drop of blood fall onto my shoulder. I used the soapy water enveloping our naked bodies to flick the blood away before gazing up over my shoulder to the vampire behind me. "Why are you bleeding? What time is it?"

"Nearly dawn." His arms around me tightened, his chin resting on the top of my head. "Don't worry about me, lover."

"You should be sleeping." I mumbled, sinking further into the water, using his chest as my anchor.

"I'm fine." He assured, kissing the top of my head. "You scared me tonight, lover."

"Sorry." I closed my eyes, relaxing in his comforting arms. "I don't even know what happened. I don't even remember much."

"You were overcooked." Eric explained. "You were high off of the power."

"I blacked out I guess. I remember walking into the cemetery, but after that, it's all hazy."

"So I guess you don't remember ordering me off of you then." One of his hands toyed with the ends of my damp hair.

"I did what?" my eyes opened in horror. "I-I actually..."

"It was nothing." He reassured. "You were fuelled by magic; I was a fool to believe that you couldn't."

"I'm sorry." I sighed.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. I'll just remember to keep you gagged next time." I could just imagine that smirk on his face. "Godric was smart enough to do that."

"Oh, kinky."

"You're sounding far too much like me now." He chuckled.

"Scary."

"very." He snorted before growing serious. "Really, Savannah, how are you?"

"Weird." I admitted with a shrug. "After the meeting all I felt was weak. I could barely walk. I couldn't even open our bond."

"Which would explain why we couldn't find you." Godric's voice came from the bathroom doorway. I slowly raised my head to look over to where the eldest vampire stood and frowned when he wouldn't look me in the eye. I knew he was guilty. I could feel that loud and clear through our bond. I latched onto the triumvirate we shared, the connection I don't think any of us would ever completely understand. I felt comforted feeling both of them so close, so freely. After everything that's happened tonight, that's all I wanted; to feel safe and comforted. "What happened after you left the meeting?"

"I was just trying to get as far away as I could." I sat up straighter, Eric grunting as I accidentally rubbed against certain anatomy. I ignored him as I kept my eyes locked on Godric. "I didn't think at first to open our bond, and when I did, I couldn't. I just couldn't. And then...and then..."

"That's when you found the cemetery." He nodded.

"It's more like it found me." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I felt it before I saw it. The moment I stepped into it, it was like I was rejuvenated instantly. I could feel my strength return, I could feel my magic growing stronger. It felt...god I remember it feeling amazing.`

"So amazing that you just couldn't stop." Eric commented.

"Apparently." I shifted uncomfortable. Thinking back, I couldn't believe how unhinged I had become. I wasn't someone who ever let loose, not like that. I couldn't remember a time I had ever gotten out of my mind drunk. I had never gotten high, and I never wanted to. But tonight, god I just couldn't stop myself. It was out of my control. Once I got a taste of the power I could feel, I just couldn't stop. And that scared me. What if it happened again? What if Eric and Godric hadn't of been there to stop me? What could have happened? "I-I don't know what happened to me tonight."

"You were weakened and used your necromancy to call out to the dead." Godric stepped into the room, though he still refused to look me in the eye. "And they answered."

"It scares me." I shivered despite the nice warm temperature of the water around me. "What if you hadn't of been there. What if..."

"We were there." Eric kissed the curve of my neck. "The moment that bond flowed, the moment we felt that power radiating through the blood, we went to you immediately. We'll always be there for you, lover. Always."

"But what if..."

"Don't think about the what if when it will never be." He stroked my cheek soothingly. "It happened, and now we know what happens when you get a little too much magic inside of you, when you lose control in a cemetery."

"It's why blood circles are needed." Godric added. "And next time, we'll do just that."

"Next time?" I frowned in confusion. "I don't want a next time. I want to avoid cemeteries. I have terrible luck in cemeteries. No more."

"But there will be a next time. There has to be." He came to rest beside the tub, kneeling down so we were eye level. But still, no eye contact, and that was beginning to frustrate me. "We learned tonight that at your most weakest, the dead answered your silent plea. They are the key, Savannah. They are what you need. You can run from who you are all you want, but this is what you need."

"But..."

"We'll take precautions. We'll be there from the beginning so you can't lose control. But if you're going to be forced to go to these meetings, then you're going to grow weak. And while Eric and I may be able to bring you some relief, it's obvious the dead are what you need. Their spirits, the call of their souls, that's what fuels the magic in your veins. You need it, Savannah, you do." Godric explained.

"I also need you to look at me." I countered softly. "Why won't you look at me?"

"I'm afraid you won't look at me the same for what I've done." He admitted.

"For stopping me before I could get hurt?" I raised an eyebrow.

"But I hurt you." His voice was strained.

"But I'm fine."

Godric sighed and went to stand, only to be stopped by Eric.

"Listen to her, Godric."

"I love you." I reached a hand out to him, waiting patiently for him to take it. Eventually, after a very long stare down at the limb, he did clasp his hand around mine. The moment our hands were connected, I felt a shock of electricity shooting right up my arm and down my spine. The calm beast inside of me coiled around that imaginary link between Godric and me, pulling us tightly together. I lost my breath for a moment, feeling a comforting warmth spreading through my body. With my back pressed against Eric and my hand in Godric's, our chain was complete and it felt wonderful. Maybe it wasn't as wonderful as whatever happened tonight, but it was nearly as good. "I love you and no matter what you have to do to keep me safe, it won't change that."

"But I..."

"I'm fine." I insisted, staring him dead in the eye. "I'm fine. Listen to what I'm saying. My head kills, and I've definitely learned my lesson, but I'm seriously fine. I'm great actually. Better than I've felt in awhile. I know I lost control, but it felt fucking fantastic."

"Just never again." Eric sounded out of breath, and I knew both he and Godric were feeling what I was.

"Agreed." I nodded. "We'll do the blood circles, like Godric taught me. And as much as it scares the hell out of me, I guess you're right, Godric. Maybe I do need it."

"I still don't like you having to do this at all." I could feel Eric frowning.

"I don't think we have much of a choice in the matter." Godric squeezed my hand. "But Eric was correct; we will always be here for you, my love. Always. No matter if you lose control, or if I lose control, we'll always..."

"Always be there. I know." I smiled lovingly at him. "And I'll always be here for you two, no matter if I lose control, or if you lose control. Always."

"well I'm glad we got that settled." Eric raised a hand to brush away a drop of blood dripping down from his ear. "But I think maybe we should all rest."

"I told you." I wagged my finger at him. "Come on, up up. Let's get you two to bed."

"Aren't you forceful?" Eric snickered sarcastically, though he lifted both of us out of the tub, Godric holding open a warm fluffy towel for us. Eric held me out to Godric, who took me in his arms without hesitance. I cuddled against the vampire as he wrapped the towel around me before the two trudged into the bedroom, Eric lightly drying off before throwing himself onto the bed bare naked. I licked my lips teasingly at the vampire, not able to stop myself.

"So, I guess wild and crazy sex is definitely out."

"Tomorrow." Eric promised with a smirk.

"Most definitely tomorrow." Godric vowed in agreement.

"Yes please."

2 weeks later

"Why are we in Bon Temps?" I leaned against Eric's red corvette, my nose scrunched up as I tried to keep myself upright. Two weeks. Two weeks of those damn coven meetings. On one hand, I felt like I was getting better at shielding against the witches, better at protecting myself. But on the other hand, the witches, or more importantly Marnie, had been getting stronger. The spells have increased, growing odder and less about nature then they first had been. And the darker the magic seemed to become, the more my own magic tried like hell to get away. Except it couldn't. Because what was darker than necromancy? Nothing. The magic that flowed through my blood was the perfect source for these witches, for Marnie, and she must have known that because I could feel her pushing against my metaphysical walls. I tried desperately to push her back out, but that would only weaken me. I was getting better, only little cracks formed in those walls protecting me. But those cracks were just enough to cause damage.

"Because we've gone to every cemetery in Shreveport." Eric was at my side in seconds, wrapping an arm around my waist securely. "And we haven't figured out a way to reuse a cemetery. It's as if you drain it of the souls every time."

"I apologize for that." I replied sarcastically with an eye roll.

"Don't be cheeky." He flashed me a small smile. I think he was just relieved I hadn't been as bad as that first night. Every night after those meetings I was slowly feeling better quicker. But much like Godric had suggested, I did need to visit the cemeteries. I did need to call out to the dead to fix what had been stolen from me. And it worked, it really did. With Eric and Godric's help, with the blood circles we created, I was able to control myself more than I had that first night. I would still feel a slight buzz, but I could still control myself, I could still keep my composure, and that was the main thing. "How are you holding up, lover?"

"Fine." I shrugged as we slowly began into the cemetery from where we had parked just outside the gates. When I thought about it, I knew Eric was right; we had been to every possible cemetery in Shreveport. Once we had tried returning to a few, but they would just feel empty and useless and I would be left wanting more; needing more. So now we were in Bon Temps Cemetery, and I could already feel the dead answering my plea. A smile graced my lips the moment we stepped through the gates, the buzzing of the dead vibrating beneath my feet. I nearly lost my footing, but Eric quickly tightened his arm around me and held me up. "Oh yeah, I definitely feel fine now."

"Good." Eric nodded, though there was a frown on his face. He might have been a big mean and tough vampire around everyone else, but I could tell that he hated to see me this way, weak and in pain. And that warmed my heart. Because he wouldn't act that way if he didn't love me, if he truly didn't care. That pushed away all my doubts, at least for a little while. He had really stepped up these last few weeks and I appreciated both him and Godric for it. Without them, I'm not sure what I would have done. "Let's get this started then."

"Why are we here without Godric, anyways?" I wondered as I closed my eyes, searching for the greatest source of power in the cemetery. Which soul would feed my magic tonight?

"Godric was caught up in researching better methods for you to protect yourself against the witches so this wouldn't be necessary." Eric explained and I could feel his eyes boring down at me. "Anything?"

"Over there." I could feel the tug on my consciousness, but with Eric anchoring me, I was able to keep fully aware as we began across the cemetery. "Why this cemetery, anyways? There's ones between Shreveport and Bon Temps we could have gone to."

"But this way we can raise hell for Billy to clean up." Eric leant down and whispered mischievously in my ear. "Now doesn't that sound like fun?"

"I don't raise hell." I snorted, but couldn't help but flash the vampire a wide grin at the prospect of annoying the King that had forced us to do in to begin with. "But I'm game."

He just smirked, stroking my cheek before we came to a stop. "This is?"

I looked around, closing my eyes once more to embrace the dead around me. And with a smile, I nodded, knowing that this grave would be perfect for tonight's events. So with that, the blood circle was created, entrapping Eric and I inside the ring of magic as it travelled from the dead beneath our feet and into both of us. With Eric holding a hand to my shoulder, we were connected, our essences flowing through one another in perfect unity. And it felt wonderful. Nothing could compare to that great feeling two weeks ago, but I knew that was a feeling I could never have again. This was only a sliver of that power, of that magic I had been given, but it was enough to rejuvenate me, to make me feel more alive than I had an hour ago.

"How are you feeling?" Eric questioned as we finished, helping me stand.

I wobbled a bit, clutching onto Eric's arm for support. I felt dizzy, the buzz of the dead seeping into me. I had to move a good couple of feet away from where the circle had only just been broken until that string of magic was finally severed, leaving me feeling grounded.

"Good. I feel good." I nodded to the vampire in assurance, gazing up at the blonde. "I think we're good, we can leave now. Are we making a pit stop at Fangtasia, or..."

I raised an eyebrow as Eric's head suddenly snapped to the side, his eyes growing narrow as he stared through the dark cemetery, as if seeing something that I couldn't. And that was probably true.

"Eric?" I nudged him slightly, trying to gain his attention. But he just kept staring at that one spot. I watched him closely, watched as his once narrowed eyes grew wide in surprise, his body tensing as he all but stumbled backwards. Now I was worried. What was he seeing? "Eric? What's wrong?"

"Stay here." His voice was hoarse as he peeled my fingers away from him arm. And after making sure I was stable enough to stand on my own two feet without his help, he began walking away from me.

"Huh? Yeah, I don't think so." I shook my head, shivering as I wrapped my arms around myself. The weather had gotten colder, just like the witches had asked for. It wasn't exactly freezing, but for Louisiana, it was unexpectedly chilly for the end of summer. "Remember the last time I was alone in a cemetery. Yeah, remember that?"

"You'll be fine." Eric twisted on his heel and before I could even utter another word, he was gone.

"What the fuck!" I hissed under my breath, twisting my head this way and that in search of the vampire. I tried listening closely, but the cemetery was big enough, with sounds of the wild drowning out any possible sound from the vampire. All I could go by now, was instinct. And that nice little bond we shared. I dipped into that triumvirate we had formed, searching for the vampire that had just abandoned me in one of my most feared placed. He knew how much I hated cemeteries after everything. He knew I hated being in here alone. So why the hell had he just left me?

"What is up with you?" I muttered to myself, my feet beginning to carry me across the cemetery with a mind of their own. This time thankfully, it was attempting to follow Eric and not searching out more dead bodies and their souls.

I was completely irked at the vampire and made a mental note to slap him when I found him, though I knew it wouldn't do any good. He would barely feel a thing. But it would make me feel better, even if my hand would be sore from the act.

"Stupid vampire." I grumbled, nearly stumbling over a good dozen or so tombstones, cursing myself for not paying attention to where I was walking. Finally, after what felt like hours instead of mere minutes, I found myself on the edge of the cemetery, trees lining a small property. I frowned as I inched closer, finding a sweet little house sitting in a clearing. I knew Bill lived nearby, but this seemed a bit too modest for his arrogance, so I knew I hadn't found myself at the King's house.

So where was I?

"You were with Claudine?" a familiar voice caught my attention.

I inched even closer, peeking around a tree as quietly as I could as I peered up at the house. There standing on the porch was none other than Bill Compton himself. Maybe I had been wrong, maybe this was his house. But then I caught sight of a girl, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders, her pale blue sundress hugging her form nicely. She was pretty, though I didn't even know who she was.

"It's none of your business where I go or what I do." she voice wavered as she spoke, her southern accent thick.

"Sookie, for over 12 months I've felt empty."

My heart stopped.

Sookie?

As in Sookie Stackhouse?

As in the object of Eric's affection, or at least so I thought?

I couldn't help but glare at the blonde, hating her just by sight. I didn't know her; she could have been the sweetest girl in the world. But knowing that Eric was still conflicted with his emotions for her, I blamed her for that, I hated her. The jealous green monster was worming itself through me, raging its ugly head. Part of me wanted to just turn away and go back to searching for Eric. But I just couldn't. I was rooted to that sport, just glaring at that girl with hatred.

"It was as if you had died." Bill admitted sadly before a sudden gust of wind blew passed me.

"Well I knew you weren't dead."

I groaned inwardly. I should have known Eric would have been here. Why else would he have suddenly run off? Of course it was because of Sookie, because of the woman I had never met and already hated with a passion. He told me she meant nothing to him, that she was in his past. So then why was he here now?

"Eric, not now." Bill hissed at him with a frown.

"I never lost hope." Eric stepped forward, staring up at Sookie with that infamous smirk of his and a piercing gaze.

"Don't you have obligations elsewhere?" Bill narrowed his eyes.

"I don't." Eric shrugged.

"I believe you do." Bill insisted.

I frowned, watching their exchange, though I was more interested by the look on Sookie's face as she looked between the two vampires. She looked conflicted herself, like she wasn't sure if she wanted to leap into one of their arms or run in the other direction. I prayed for the latter, but a gut feeling told me that wouldn't happen.

"Eric, go!" Bill finally snapped with a growl.

Eric rolled his eyes before peering up at Sookie as if she was the only woman in the world, like Bill hardly even existed. He stared at her in a way that I had only seen him stare at one other; and that had been me.

"Apparently I have to go." Eric stepped forward. "But understand this. Everyone who claims to love you; your friends, your brother, even Bill Compton, they all gave up on you. I never did."

My heart was aching as I listened to every word, watched every little look the two shared with one another. It felt like a thousand million knives were slicing through my heart. Because this didn't sound like nothing. This didn't look like some innocent exchange. This was something, despite all that Eric denied.

"Eric!"

Eric only smirked wider as he began walking passed the porch, winking at Sookie as he passed by. "I'll see you soon, Miss Stackhouse."

I just stood there, clutching onto a tree for support as I watched Eric rush right passed where I was, going slower than his usual vampire pace. It was almost as if he knew I was there and was demanding that I follow him. But I couldn't. I just leaned against that tree, my eyes closed tightly, willing the tears not to come. I felt betrayed by Eric. I felt lied to. Because he could deny it all he wants, but I saw the way he was looking at her. I heard the way he spoke. And it wasn't just some relationship in the past. She wasn't just any ordinary girl to him. She was someone special. And I hated them both for that.

"Come along, Savannah. Eavesdropping isn't nice." Eric flashed before me, a frown settled on his lips as he grasped onto my arm and began tugging me back through the cemetery.

"Neither is lying." I muttered, though I knew he could hear me clear as day.

"Don't start this. Not here, not now." He warned.

"What was that, Eric? What the hell was that?" I could feel the lump rising in my throat, my vision blurring with tears. "What was that?"

"Nothing, it was nothing." His frown deepened, his grip tightening around my arm. "I told you to stay."

"I was scared." I tried to shake his hand away. "I didn't want to be left alone so I went looking for you. I guess I found what I was looking for."

"Don't." He turned around suddenly, towering over me with a glare in his eyes. "Don't start with this again, Savannah. It's been a good two weeks. It's been peaceful. Don't start playing with fire now."

"What was that?" I demanded to know, a tear slipping down my cheek though I quickly brushed it away. "And don't say it was nothing, because it was clearly something."

"Savannah..."

"So that's Sookie, huh?" I gritted my teeth as I looked away. "She's pretty."

"Stop."

"I can see why you..."

"I said stop!" Eric grasped onto both of my arms now, shaking me roughly before him. "Stop it, Savannah, just stop it."

"You love her, don't you? You always have."

"Don't act like a jealous little child. Of course I don't." his glare darkened. "How many times do I have to tell you that I love you not her."

"How many times will I have to watch you with her until you finally just admit the truth?" My bottom lip quivered. "I saw the way you looked at her, Eric. I'm not blind."

"You are naive." He shook his head in disgust, letting go of my arms and stepping backwards. "I love you, Savannah. I've only ever loved you, no one else. Realize that before you ruin everything with your jealousy."

"I don't think I'll be the one ruining everything, Eric."