Chapter Eight:

"I hate you!"

Eric sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs, cringing as Mackenzie proceeded to scream and slam her door shut. The entire house shook, and it took Eric all the strength he could muster not to run back up those stairs and tear that door off it's hinges.

"Little brat." Eric muttered under his breath, unaware that he was being watched from the front door.

"Well now, I wonder why Mackenzie could possibly be acting this way?" Pam smirked at her maker as she sashayed into the house. "You practically just threw her to the curb, Eric. You can't expect her to exactly be happy about this."

"This is to protect her." Eric insisted, making a beeline for the door. It had been days since he had informed Mackenzie of his decision to send her across the country and out of harm's way. Not that Mackenzie knew the true reason she was being ripped away from her friends and family. And if it were up to him, she never would. It did, however, come with its consequences. Mackenzie had been an absolute horror to be around. She had already been angry and broken hearted over Godric, and now Eric only added to the stress. He just had to keep reminding himself that this was for her. This was all for her.

"You don't have to convince me." Pam shrugged. "But you can't just expect her to be an angel. She's upset, Eric. And rightfully so. She just realized that Godric likely will never be in her life again, and now you're sending her away from everything she's ever known. She has a right to be a horrid brat."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it." Eric grumbled with a shake of his head. "I need you to babysit. If I stay here for another minute and have to deal with her, I'll end up doing something I'll likely regret."

Pam eyed her maker, noting the darker ring of blood around his eyes, the blood more prominent than ever. They had all been stressed lately, what with Mackenzie's family attempting to find her, and now with sending Mackenzie away. It was for her protection, but that didn't mean it didn't affect them all. Pam knew how hard it was for Eric to just send her away. He had barely lasted two weeks the last time she was gone. At least then, he had been able to take her back. This time, however, he couldn't just change his mind and fly to New York to collect her. And even if he could, it still wouldn't be safe for her. He was going to have to suck it up and live with this decision, even if it took a toll on him.

"Go." Pam motioned towards the door, knowing her maker needed to feed, to release his pent up aggressions. It may have become natural for them to hide their true selves around Mackenzie, even to the point of forgetting to feed on a regular basis, but not even a human child could change what they were. They were rabid beasts that needed to be released once in awhile. Or they would become a danger to those they loved. "I'll watch over the little chick pea."

"Try and get her to pack. I know she hasn't yet and we leave tomorrow night for New York City."

Pam just waved him out of the house. "We'll have some girl time. Talk about boys, do each other's nails. It'll be all the rage."

Eric sent her an appreciative smile before dashing out of the door, leaving the dust in his wake. Pam shook her head before turning towards the stairs, deciding on whether she should give Mackenzie some time to cool off. Deciding she didn't want to deal with the hostile teen just yet, she went in search of Eric's secret stash of bagged blood. She had a feeling she was going to need a drink if she was going to get through the night without wanting to stake herself.

"Who the hell actually uses expensive luggage?" Mackenzie grumbled as she kicked the Louis Vuitton suitcase set Pam had insisted on. Not that Mackenzie cared. She didn't even want a suitcase, and she certainly didn't want to pack. In fact, she refused to. If she never packed, Eric couldn't force her to go to New York, and everything would just be peachy.

Though that scenario went smoother in her imagination than she knew would happen in reality. Eventually Eric was going to lose the last string of his patience, and Mackenzie wasn't sure if she wanted to witness that. Eric had one hell of a temper, and she certainly didn't want to be at the end of it. Even if that did mean packing.

"This is so stupid." She glared down at the luggage as if it personally insulted her. And it might a well have. "This is so fucking stupid."

"Careful now, cupcake, don't want to let Eric hear you talk like that."

Mackenzie jumped at the unexpected voice. Her eyes widened as she twisted on her heel only to find Pam leaning against her now open doorway with the widest smirk present on her ruby red lips. Mackenzie wasn't sure how Pam was going to react. Eric detested when she swore, though she had learned every little curse word from him anyways. Pam, however, had always been more lenient with her, almost like a big sister. Mackenzie was pretty certain Pam would murder anyone who even dared to call her motherly. Though the blonde teen saw right through the cold façade both maker and progeny put on. They were capable of caring, of love. The last ten years were a testament to that.

"You're lucky Eric's already gone." Pam pushed herself into the room, her calculating orbs sweeping over the room before landing on the suitcases that looked nothing as she had left them. "Now you do know those cost a fortune, right? Louis Vuitton is not a punching bag."

Mackenzie snorted. "It's just a bag."

"Just a bag?" Pam stared at her as if she had two heads. "That bag cost thousands of dollars."

Mackenzie raised an eyebrow. "Why would you give a teenager luggage that costs that much? Why would anyone need luggage that costs that much?"

"It makes a statement." Pam planted her hands firmly on her hips, her eyes narrowing. "Do you know how much of a dent I put in Eric's credit card to get you these?"

"That's your own fault." Mackenzie shrugged, though she did feel remnants of guilt as she gazed down at the kicked at suitcase. With a sigh, she knelt on the ground and tried to smooth out the expensive material. "If I knew you spent that much…"

"It's Louis Vuitton, chick pea, what did you expect?" Pam rolled her eyes.

The teen rolled her eyes. "I'm fourteen."

Pam just tapped her foot on the ground as she watched Mackenzie work before sighing and crossing the room to yank Mackenzie up to her feet. "Don't bother yourself with such a morsel task, Mackenzie. I'll just have them send another set over."

Her eyes practically bugged out of her skull. "Send over thousands of dollars in suitcases that I already have? Are you insane! Eric will…"

"Eric will deal with it." The smirk was back on Pam's red lips as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "What we really need to deal with is that look." Her icy orbs took in Mackenzie's appearance. Her golden locks hung in a frazzled ponytail, her cheeks red and stained with tears. Her eyes were puffy and Pam knew she had been constantly crying the last few days. Pam nearly scoffed out loud at the pair of sweats she knew Mackenzie had been donning for days. "This look really isn't you, sweetheart."

Mackenzie tugged at the hem of her too large t-shirt with a shrug. "What does it matter?"

"We leave for New York tomorrow." Pam shook her head, having none of it. "We can't let you go to the grandest city of them all looking like a hillbilly hick. No, it won't do at all."

Blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I don't like the sound of that."

"Just sit down and shut up." Pam pointed at the bed.

"I really don't have a say in this, do I?" Mackenzie sighed, her shoulders slumping forward.

"No." Pam's smirk just widened.

"I'm not seven years old anymore. You can't dress me up in some ridiculous outfit." Mackenzie pointed out, but settled on the edge of the bed anyways. There was no point in arguing with Pam when it came to fashion. It was literally her way or the highway. Not that Mackenzie always minded. She may not have cared about the clothes, or how she looked, but it was the little rare moments the two had together that Mackenzie cherished. In the beginning, Pam hated being around her longer than she had to, and recently, Mackenzie would always curl up in the corner of the library with a book rather than seek Pam out for advice with boys or fashion.

"You're hair is a mess." Pam muttered as she turned Mackenzie so her back was to her and tugged the elastic out of the tangled mess that was her hair, frowning at what she had to work with. Her hair had grown to her mid back, no shape at all to it. "I think I'll take a few inches off…"

"Wait what!" Mackenzie started to twist around, only for a gust of wind to throw her hair into her face. By the time she had brushed the strands of hair out of her eyes, Pam was back in the room, a pair of scissors in her hands. "No no no no no. You are not cutting my hair. That is so not happening."

"Oh be quiet, I know what I'm doing." Pam rolled her eyes.

"Like hell you do!" Mackenzie exclaimed, attempting to jump off the bed.

Pam, however, just laid a single hand down onto her shoulder, effectively holding her captive on the bed. "You're such a little drama queen. Now just sit still. I don't want to cut your precious ear off."

Mackenzie's eyes were as wide as saucers as she was forced back around. Her hands clutched onto her bed spread in fear as she waited for the snips of the scissors. Her eyes were squeezed shut as Pam went to work, working at a speed Mackenzie had never fathomed. Before she even knew it, Pam was dusting off her shoulders and running a brush through her newly cut hair.

"There, much better." Pam inspected the volume cut with satisfaction. "You don't look like a train wreck anymore."

"Gee, thanks." Mackenzie muttered with an eye roll. She did, however, lean to the side to try and get a view of her new do in the mirror. Pam turned her around before she could catch her appearance however, tweezers in her hands. "Do you enjoy torturing me or something?"

"Yes." Pam smirked down at her.

"Don't you have some other Barbie doll to play with other than me?" Mackenzie groaned but knew better than to move as Pam began plucking her eyebrows. "Ow! Mother of…"

"I wouldn't finish that if I were you." Pam plucked away, her smirk only growing wider and wider. "If you didn't squirm, it might not be as painful."

"Really?" the teen asked hopefully.

"No."

Mackenzie attempted a glare but Pam just ignored her, concentrating on hopefully not plucking her entire eyebrow. "Is all of this really necessary? It's not like I care what people think about me. I'm not going there to impress anyone. I don't want to even go there."

Pam sighed as she paused, glancing down at the girl and catching her gaze. Her expression softened ever so slightly as she noted the sadness littering the girl's orbs. Pam knew the moment Eric suggested sending Mackenzie to school across the country that all hell was going to break loose. She may not have warmed up to the girl at first, but now Pam found herself to be fiercely protective in a way she never thought possible when concerning a silly little human. She shouldn't have cared. She shouldn't have given Mackenzie a second thought. Hell, in the beginning, she hadn't even wanted her and begged for Eric to send her to some orphanage.

But so much had changed in the past ten years. If the mere suggestion of sending Mackenzie to some strange orphanage ever came up, Pam would squash it like a bug. Mackenzie was theirs. They were a family, and she hoped by protecting Mackenzie that wouldn't change. She surprisingly enjoyed having the little thing around. She was like a life size Barbie. And reminded her too much like her little sister from her human life.

"Do I really have to go, Pam?" Mackenzie asked in a tiny voice. "Can't you talk to Eric?"

"If there was any chance I could change his decision, I would in a heartbeat, kiddo." Pam admitted.

"But he listens to you. And he never gets mad at you, even if you do spend thousands of dollar on meaningless shit." Mackenzie eyed the luggage, shaking her head at the sheer fact that her new suitcases probably cost more than her entire wardrobe. "Please Pam? I don't want to go. I really really don't want to go."

Pam was reminded that Mackenzie was still only a child, though she tried to act older than she was. She tried to remember how she was as a fourteen year old girl, but it had been so long ago that she had long forgotten her human life in great detail. Her life, as trying as it was, was never as nightmarish as Mackenzie's short life had been. And the girl didn't even remember the terror she had been put through at the hand of her own biological parents.

There were unspoken rules in the vampire world, rules that were never crossed. Pam and Eric had spent over a century teetering on those roles, enjoying their life of fucking and killing. It was all Pam had ever hoped her second life would be. But there was always a line that they would never cross, a line that hadn't mattered to others the night they discovered Mackenzie. She had just been so tiny, so fragile just sitting there in the burning living room, crying and covered in her own flowing blood.

"Pam?" Mackenzie jostled Pam out of her darkened thoughts of the past.

Quickly masking her emotions, Pam went straight back to plucking the teen's eyebrows, her frown deepening and her eyebrows furrowed together. "There's nothing I can do, cupcake."

Mackenzie's hoped deflated as she just sat there, her shoulders slumped, her expression crestfallen. "I'm really going to miss it here."

"You know it's not permanent, right?" Pam pulled back so she could catch the girl's gaze. "Eric would go insane if it was. And I'm not about to deal with my maker like that again. You will be coming home every single damn holiday, do I make myself clear?"

As she had hoped, Mackenzie's lips twitched ever so slightly upwards. Satisfied, Pam's smirk returned to her lips and she finished her work. It wasn't long before she was standing back, admiring her handiwork. Mackenzie once again tried to peek at herself in the mirror, going as far as jumping off the bed before Pam could stop her. A wide grin crossed Mackenzie's lips as she stopped in front of her vanity mirror, her orbs brightening as she fussed with her hair.

"I love it." She flashed Pam a smile through the mirror. It wasn't a drastic change, her hair still fell well below her shoulders, but with the added layers that framed her face, her hair looked more alive than it had in years.

"And you were worried." Pam snickered.

"Thank you, Pam." Mackenzie turned, still running her fingers through her now silky locks. "I'm going to miss you. And Eric. I'm going to miss everything."

"Oh don't get sentimental on me." Pam inwardly groaned. She was not equipped to deal with emotional teens. She loved Mackenzie, there was no doubt about that, but she would much rather the girl happy and mischievous, not crying all over her.

Mackenzie however, ignored her as she crossed the room. Pam's entire body stiffened as Mackenzie surprised her by throwing her arms loosely around her. Pam's arms just hung at her side, her eyes wide as Mackenzie quickly embraced her before pulling back. Before she did however, Pam surprised both of them by stopping her, laying a single hand on her back, toying with the ends of Mackenzie's hair.

"I'm going to miss you too kiddo." She mumbled before separating them quickly. "Never do that again."

"Sorry." Mackenzie's smile was wide as she tucked her hair behind an ear.

"If you ever speak about this," Pam motioned towards them, feigning disgust. "You'll wish you were never born.

Raising her hands in defense, Mackenzie nodded. "I swear."

"Good." Pam rolled her eyes before tossing her hair over her shoulder, feeling more uncomfortable than she had when she had first got here. "Eric should be back soon. You should finish packing before he strangles you."

"He wouldn't."

"No, but most days he'd like to I'm sure." The vampire snorted. "Just pack. It'll be easier on the both of you if you just do it."

Sighing, Mackenzie knew Pam was right. She was going to have to do it whether she wanted to or not. Pam was really her last hope, and without her being able to change Eric's mind, there was nothing she could do now. She was moving across the country tomorrow night, and that was that.

"Oh," Pam stopped halfway out of the room, twisting on her heels before tugging a small rectangular blue box out of her back pocket Mackenzie had never noticed before. "This is for you."

"You got me a present?" Mackenzie raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Christmas was days ago."

"I know that." Pam rolled her eyes. "It's not from me."

"Who's it from?" Mackenzie questioned curiously, catching the box as Pam tossed it to her. She held the blue box in her hands and it didn't take a genius to know where it was from. Eric had brought Pam home many little blue boxes from Tiffany's over the years. A happy progeny was a productive progeny, Eric would always tell me with a wink.

"Godric."

Mackenzie stopped dead, her eyes widening as her eyebrows shot into her hairline. "What?"

Pam shifted uncomfortably. She had snatched the present up the moment she found it, knowing that any reminder of Godric would haunt the girl. Now three years later, with her entire world crumbling apart, and with Mackenzie certain Godric didn't love her, now was as best of time to give it to her as any.

"It was meant to be your twelfth birthday present." Pam explained. "But he never had the opportunity to give it to you."

"Why now?" Mackenzie wondered softly, her fingers gliding across the Tiffany's box delicately.

Pam offered a small, rare true smile. "Because you're ready now."

Mackenzie didn't have any time to retort as Pam clicked out of the room in no time, likely wanting to get as far away as she could before Mackenzie started bawling. And the blonde was nearly certain that she would.

Settling on her bed crossed legged, Mackenzie set the box down before her, just staring at the white silk ribbon that held the box closed. The kid in her wanted to rip it open to see what was inside. It would be her first real piece of grown up jewelry and she couldn't help but feel excited. But her heart ached at the mere thought of who this gift was from. Godric. She could already feel the emotions rise at just the thought of the vampire that had abandoned her. Part of her wanted to toss the box out, to forget whatever was in it, just to spite Godric. It wasn't like he even cared if she accepted the gift anyways. He didn't seem to care at all these days.

It was surprising to Mackenzie, how quickly the anger started to replace the sadness. The turnaround was just so sudden. One minute she wanted to cry, just as she had been for the past week and a half. But just like that, as quick as snapping her fingers, she felt furious. It felt like flames were consuming her as she glared down at the box. She did decide to open it, ripping the apart the box. She didn't do so with glee, however, and instead with pure fury. The moment her eyes fell on the gold locket laying in the silk, she let out a string of curses, not caring who may hear her.

"I hate you." She grit her teeth as she clutched the tiny locket in the palm of her hand. "I hate you so much."

Mackenzie felt blinded by her sudden rage. She threw the locket across the room, not caring that it was so fragile that it could break with such ease. No, she didn't care about anything anymore. Not when it concerned Godric.

God, that name. That god damn name sent her into near hysterics. Her cheeks burned a bright red as she reached across her bed to the phone that sat on her nightstand. She was a fourteen-year-old girl possessed as she slammed her fingers against the almost foreign number, not even thinking straight as she called the one person Eric had forbid her to call.

Mackenzie shook from head to toe as she clutched the phone so tightly, she thought it was going to break. With each ring, her anger just grew exponentially. She could have sworn steam was coming out of her ears, she was just that furious.

"Hello?" Godric's smooth, accented voice came over the phone, ringing in her ears almost melodically. If she hadn't been so angry, maybe she would have caved and burst into tears. But oh no, she was beyond the state of sanity at that point.

"I hate you." She blurted out.

There was silence, and Mackenzie for a moment thought he had just hung up. But then a sigh sounded and she knew Godric was still there, probably thinking of some pathetic excuse to feed her with. Well she wasn't going to buy it! She couldn't believe Godric. How could he just do this to her? How could he just leave, and without even saying goodbye? They were supposed to be a family. They were supposed to stick together. He promised. He had made so many promises. But he just ended up breaking each and every one of them. And Mackenzie wanted him to know just how miserable she was, just how much she hated him for doing this to her.

"Mackenzie." He sighed heavily. "It's been some time."

"Some time my ass." She hissed. "It's been nearly three years since you abandoned me."

"I didn't…"

"Yes you did." She growled, hate lacing her words. "Don't even try and pretend like you didn't. You abandoned me and you know it. You're just lying to yourself to make yourself feel better. Well don't. Because you're a rotten asshole who I hate."

"Mackenzie, I'm…"

"I hate you so much Godric. I never thought I would ever hate you. Not really. I thought it would be Eric I would eventually hate. But funnily enough, it's the other way around. He actually gives a crap about me while you're off in Dallas, enjoying the fact that you've abandoned me!" She had never felt so angry before in her life. She didn't care that she was yelling at her superior, that she was screaming at Godric of all people. She didn't care at all.

"If you'd let me explain…"

"I just wanted you to know that I hate you."

"Mackenzie…"

"Goodbye Godric."

She hung up as quickly as she could, before she fell to pieces. Half way through her rant, she could feel the lump rising in her throat, the tears forming in her eyes. The moment she slammed her phone back down onto the table, she could feel the anger draining away, leaving her more exhausted than she ever had been before. Letting out a soft whimper, Mackenzie curled up on her side, just staring at where she had thrown the necklace. It lay broken, as she thought it might, and she could feel her heart clench.

Mackenzie couldn't help but think she just said her final goodbyes to Godric.

"I just wanted you to know that I hate you."

Mackenzie's words cut through Godric's heart like a sharp knife. They had when she was only a child, not even understanding what hatred truly was, and now, now Mackenzie understood hate better than she should have. And he couldn't do a damn thing about it. It pained him to hear her in so much agony, to hear her misery, to know what she had gone through in the past few years. He should have been there. He shouldn't have left. It was a decision to this date he regretted.

But it was a decision he couldn't take back, and the cough that sounded across from him reminded him of that.

"That isn't some love struck human that's going to make my job harder than it already is, is it?" Nan Flanagan narrowed her eyes as she glared across the desk at the Sheriff of Area 9.

"No." Godric shook his head, though he masked his swirling emotions from the cold-hearted woman. "She's absolutely no one of importance.

"Good." Nan shifted it her seat, her calculating ice blue eyes scanning over Godric before nodding in satisfaction. "Now where was I?"

"You were informing me that the Authority had nearly perfected synthetic blood." Godric motioned for her to continue.

"Of course." Nan nodded, looking as gleeful as she could possibly get with the permanent scowl on her face. "We've had scientists across the world attempting to perfect the serum, but without luck. A handful in japan, however, have made a breakthrough. If all goes well, it could be ready within six months."

"What would this mean?" Godric's eyebrows furrowed.

"It would mean the beginning of the mainstreaming movement." Nan explained. "The Authority has been trying for years to move forward with integrating ourselves amongst humans, to equalize our races. It's only been recent that it's become more than some fantasy bullshit Roman has concocted."

Godric was surprised by the news. He was one of the few that knew of Roman, the guardian of the Authority, and his agenda to mainstream vampires amongst humans. It had come as a surprise to him, but in the recent century, he had come to accept, and even desire the movement to take place. He saw humans as more than just food, as more than just meaningless victims. They meant so much more than that, Mackenzie had taught him that. They were so fragile, so frail that they should be cherished, not treated like cattle and farmed as food. He applauded the Authority for even coming to that conclusion and moving forward with the times.

"Roman asked me to come to you directly. We have kings and Queens across the countries backing the movement, none however, that are nearly your age."

"And why would Roman care what I think?" Godric raised an eyebrow. "I haven't cared about politics for many years, Miss Flanagan, and I don't wish to start now."

Nan shook her head with an eye roll. "You could have been a king, Godric. You could have overlooked any kingdom you wished. Hell, you could have been the Guardian if you wanted you. You know you have Roman beat by a few hundred years. Russell Edgington is the only vampire in the Americas that's older than you. And yet you choose this? You could have ruled over us all."

"I've never wanted that." Godric shook his head with a small shrug. "I'm over two thousand years old, I've made too many mistakes in my life, I've seen too many things. I just wish to leave peacefully for the rest of my existence."

"You're an idiot if you ask me." Nan muttered before remembering herself and getting back down to business. "I assured Roman that you wouldn't be against the movement; you're one of the few that have instigated a no killing rule in your Area. But he had me on the first plane to this hot as hell shit hole anyways."

"Inform Roman that he has my approval, and should he require any assistance, I'm willing to abide." Godric assured with a nod. "I wish to see a peaceful coexistence with humans in my lifetime."

"I doubt it'll be very peaceful. Do you know how many fuckers are going to come out of the wood work once we reveal ourselves?" Nan snorted. "I personally think it's a mistake, but what can you do? This is above me."

"If this...synthetic blood becomes efficient, when would such a reveal take place?" Godric wondered, and while he kept his mask perfectly placed on the outside, inside his thoughts were scrambling to make sense. Never had he thought vampires would be living amongst humans so freely, so honestly. He knew Nan was right; a peaceful coexistence may never occur, or not even in his lifetime. But this was a start at least.

"The plan was for a year. But Roman's stupidly optimistic and has moved up the date."

"And..." Godric prompted with a raised eyebrow.

"Save the date, Godric," Nan stood, dusting the imaginary dirt from her lap. "Come this summer, humans will know of the existence of vampires."