Chapter 2

"What are you?" Godric wondered for the umpteen time. He was playing with his lighter, in a strangely hypnotic sequence as he sat in the corner on a couch.

I saw the flame came on. Off. Then on again.

I caught myself staring and jerked my eyes away resolutely, "Human," I said simply and tiredly.

Godric narrowed his eyes, he shut the lighter and got up gracefully, shaking his head mildly as he did so, "I know humans…" he said with a knowing tone that I didn't want to comprehend but I did, I was sure he knew All about human beings seeing that he had probably killed a good many of them, "I've seen them in every phases. Trust me. You're not a human," he smiled faintly. He looked as if he had concluded on a good fact and was eyeing at me like I'm a new toy.

I couldn't even show my revolt towards that conclusion, because the next thing I know, someone had entered the room in a blink of an eye. Our new intruder looked at me then at Godric, and even before I could register any fear, he yanked the nylon cords away from my tied position, and was clutching me in a deathlike grip to the point of strangulation.

Easily, he shoved me onto the wall and I hit the wall with a loud thud. Pain numbed my senses and I honestly wished that I could simply curl up and die right here and now.

Apparently, I was quite high on someone's hit list.

Godric sighed, "Eric…"

"I heard she tried to kill you!" Eric nearly spat the words out as he eyed me with disdain and disbelief; almost as if to say I was utterly unworthy to even touch a speck of Godric.

My eyes darted helplessly from the blonde intruder to Godric who was narrowing his eyes at our blonde intruder in a tired manner. It seems as though he had gone through this umpteen times too.

"If I knew you would be this protective towards me, Eric, I would have considered twice before turning you," Godric said as he sat down onto the couch.

"Too late for regrets." Eric said, not loosening his grip on me one bit. I could feel my vision blurring and my breathing laboured.

Godric got up immediately, "Leave her alone." His fangs were out and Godric got me away from Eric's grasp. Godric lifted me up like a ragged doll and placed me quite carefully on the hotel bed.

Eric looked at his maker and then at me, "What is it with this human? Is she your new pet?"

He asked almost in disbelief, "Since when did you engage in a human pet? I thought you hated their kind. Besides, if you needed a pet, I could always ask Pam to get you one."

Godric sat down, visibly calmer, he began flicking his lighter again in a bored manner,

"No need for that, Eric. What I have in-stored for her?" He glanced at me in a lazy manner, "That's for me to know, Eric, you forget that I do not have to report to you everything I do. I am, after all your maker, and not the other way round. So, quit asking."

Godric uttered with finality and Eric sighed loudly before casting another dirty look at me before they stepped away to the other room to talk. They were discussing something. Both Eric and Godric glanced at me for a while before stepping out, leaving me in alone on the hotel room's bed.

In the silence of the room coupled with my mind-blowing pain that enveloped my entire body, I wondered how Desmond was. He had survived, right? Hopefully.

I was just thinking about him when my cell phone buzzed abruptly. I was startled despite myself; I didn't realised that I had it with me all this while. I figured I could call someone for help. But I paused, who?

The police obviously wouldn't be able to help me in this. They would think that I am raving mad or over reacting. In fact, they might consider me as a fang banger. I shoved away that thought and slowly reached to answer the call.

It was Desmond. Oh, god, it was Desmond! I cheered at the sound of his voice despite the mess I'm in.

"Um, is this Poppy? Are you still alive?" Desmond answered hesitantly and I had to resist the urge to jump up excitedly on the spot.

"It's me… I'm still alive," I said almost breathlessly, wincing from the pain.

"Okay, Poppy? I have informed some of the higher heads of your situation. They're not too happy about what happened back there at the camp. In fact, we're even more intent, more than ever on nailing Godric down. Even my dad is involved. We need your help here, Poppy. Are you willing to redeem yourself from what happened back there? And finally come back to us?"

A few thoughts were careening through my mind. I was of course most happy that my only cousin Desmond was alive. And now, even Uncle Jeffrey was involved. He was my mother's younger brother and Desmond's dad, but I had never really seen him much. After my mother passed away when I turned 5, he had disappeared from our lives. The last I heard about him was he had joined some organisation that weren't exactly of the legal sort.

Yet, here he was, partnering the Fellowship of the Sun. Of course I was wiling to help. Desmond and Uncle Jeffrey, they were my family and I was willing to do anything to gain their acceptance.

My heart was racing even as I uttered, "What is that you need me to do?"

Desmond's voice came over from the other end, "You'll have to gain Godric's trust, Poppy…At any cost."

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