Chapter 10
She had the palest of hair and nice violet eyes. She had a slight fragile look, if that made any sense. Delicate. Right, the term came back to me and I looked as Godric's expression shifted ever so slightly.
He backed away from me, and the girl smiled, "Godric, I heard about your new pet."
My eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Could everyone quit referring me as "the pet"? But atlas, I guess humans have no say here. I was literally in a vampire's lair.
Godric clenched his fist then he let go, "Layla." The sound of her name fitted her so entirely. If ever I fancied a girl, it probably would be someone like her I guess.
Which probably would explain why Godric was reacting so oddly around her. I felt too much like an extra in a set to remain in the room, and I was taking a step back when Godric held my wrist, "Poppy, meet the love of my life who ran away the moment I was resolved of my authority from the Leaders."
Wow, what a way to describe an entrance, I smiled sheepishly at Layla who looked hurt, "Godric, I…"
"It's fine, Layla." Godric said and paused, "But what brings you here anyway? Are you here to have a go at another one of the Leaders?"
"I…" Layla looked as though she wanted to say more but Godric cut her, "If you are, they're arriving shortly. You should stay. I'm sure Marcus would be delighted to see you again."
I felt incredibly bad for Layla. I barely knew her, but Godric was being such a pain that I felt bad for Layla. Her hands were clenched then unclenched, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be here. I was wrong. I thought things have changed and I'm here to apologise. I…"
"Really, now? Layla, Layla, dearest Layla. Do you still think that I would fall for this all over again?" Godric said as he pulled her chin towards him. I wished Godric would stop doing that, didn't he know that hand movement was annoying and not to say, down right rude?
But once again, I am quite sure no one would bother about my comments just yet.
Layla looked on the verge of tears, and I saw a streak of blood trickled down the side of her eyes. Godric let go of her abruptly, and he grabbed me swiftly, pulling me out of the room.
He was moving so fast that I couldn't even fathom where we were until he stopped and I realised that we were in the back of the house, in the midst of the maze garden. Godric was walking slowly beside me now. He had his arms folded and a rather stern look on his youthful face and I shrugged and walked quietly beside him,
"…I'll need you to save Eric, I'm not sure what was done to him, I'll need you to remember your childhood or anything that could give a clue as to what you truly are," Godric said after what seemed like an eternity. He had his eyes closed as he took a seat at the bench and I sat beside him too. The maze garden smelled of roses and I couldn't help but notice that the roses were black. Rare ones, I thought recalling that I had heard about the black roses of Halfati. Pretty amazing that Godric had managed to transplant them into his back garden. Huh, what couldn't money do.
"I'll try, but I honestly can't recall anything now."
Godric sighed and rested his head on the bench, "Eric has been with me all these years, and he's almost a brother, a son, family, if that makes sense? He's the last of my humanity."
I sighed and nodded my head, "As much as I don't fancy Eric, his devotion to you is unlike what I've ever seen. Almost to a religious fervent."
"He'll kill me in a heartbeat if I so much as say anything that sounds rude to you."
Godric smiled, "Ah, you're pretty right."
"You know that's true."
Godric laughed dryly as he took my hand, and within a blink of an eye, we were back at his house entrance. And I noticed that the elders and the leaders have arrived.