A Drop of True Blood
Miniseries: Vows of Midnight
The months that had passed her by seemed nothing but a blur. Her wedding was planned, Robin Stjernberg had eagerly accepted her invitation and the pair of them were currently sitting in a huge recording studio, waiting patiently for her drummer Dominic to undergo his sound check.
They had been waiting patiently since 9 o'clock for their producer and the engineering team to prepare their track, the various different instrument amps had be dealt with and the technicians had finally finished positioning the microphones around Dominic who was absentmindedly playing a variety of different drum fills to make sure his levels were okay.
Eric was currently sitting by her side. He was laughing and chatting with her band members and even Robin who had become a very good friend of hers over the last few months; he had really come into his talent and his character while he had been working with her. She knew that with her help he could be a very successful young musician and she was overjoyed with her decision for she could not think of anyone else more worthy.
But, all to quickly Matthew and Chris were pulled into the studio with Dominic, preparing to record their sections before it was Robyn and Robin's turn. Robyn got to her feet to watch her friends. They were currently undertaking the headphone mixing stage, each if them having been assigned to a specific aux bus.
Eric had also moved to join her, obvious excitement shining within Robyn's eyes, not just because she was preparing to do something she loved to do, but also Sam, Gaspard and their relevant party were arriving in a few hours time to help with the set up and preparation of their small wedding ceremony that was happening in a few days time.
The technicians were working hard on the sound desk, checking everything was coming through perfectly before altering each aux bus to the specifications of her band. When that was all finished an uplifting feeling of delight washed over everyone as the three of them started their first take of running through the music to the song with Robin playing the piano that had been sorted for him.
After a few alterations and three more takes the music was recorded and it was Robyn's turn to do her job. She ran through a few scales to make sure her voice was warmed up as she gave Eric a quick kiss and headed into the studio.
A small smile was washing into Eric features as he took in the bubbling form of Robyn as she laughed and joked with Robin who was just as happy with the song the pair of them had written a few months ago. If you had told the boy no more than 5 months ago that he was going to be sitting in a recording studio with Robyn Herveaux he knew the young lad would have laughed at them.
However, Eric was pulled from his thoughts when he received a text message from Robyn's manager, detailing to him that a group of people were asking for him. Understanding washed around his body as he read the message before excusing himself quietly from the room.
Eric adjusted the lapels of his blazer as he headed through the crystal white corridors of the Universal Recording studios, ignoring the plentiful supply of art that lined the walls and the people gazing at him as he walked past them, his shoes clicking against the marbled floors as he moved himself down several levels of stairs.
As he jogged down the last tier and into the foyer, many customers were waiting to talk with receptionists at the large crystal counter that dominated most of the room while the large window panels travelled from the ceiling to the floor. Eric could see the moon shining brightly against the clear black sky as he headed down the stairs and towards the four people that were grouped together, taking in the sight in front of them. The ancient vampire walked towards them, his cool exterior radiating over his figure as the group finally noticed him.
"Mr Auclair, Miss Hopkins, how lovely to see you." Eric greeted, holding out his cold hand towards Gaspard who looked up towards the vampire suspiciously before he grasped hold of Eric's in return to shake his hand.
"Mr Northman" Gaspard replied. As Eric shook this werewolf's hand, he could not help but study his features. He could see intense blue eyes shining behind a pair of oval lensed glasses, his shoulder length hair drooping over the arms of the glasses as his normally immaculate brown hair had obviously suffered from the long plane journey. However, Eric could not help but let his eyes dropping to the large scars that littered his face. The most prominent scar was positioned very similar to Robyn's curving from the base of his jaw and ended on the bridge of his nose.
"I finally get to meet the infamous Eric." Samantha, Gaspard's pregnant girlfriend expressed as she maneuvered herself around her boyfriend looking up towards Eric who looked down dramatically towards the small woman Robyn considered a very good friend.
"So it would seem." Eric stated smoothly with a small smile. It was at that moment that he noticed the other two people that were standing behind the couple in front of them. Eric had been so wrapped up in greeting Sam and Gaspard that Eric had failed to recognize an old acquaintance.
"I hope I don't find you in anymore trouble Mr Frith" Eric voiced with a small laugh as Alec turned to face the older vampire with his own smile, moving eagerly to shake his hand.
"Please, call me Alec."
"Glad to see your doing well." Eric started, one of his eyebrows rose "Hope you haven't got into any fights recently. Wouldn't want you to be out of your league." Eric resounded, the older vampire ignoring all of the confused expressions that he was being given by the others as he spoke with the younger vampire.
"No. I learnt my lesson the first time round. Thank you for asking." Alec smiled, a knowing twinkle shining in his eyes as he looked towards Eric, before turning to face Sam and Gaspard who both held a very confused expression.
"Anyway..." Sam stated, pulling the conversation back on topic as she removed the two vampires from their small conversation. "I think we may have forgotten to introduce someone." Sam finished as she pointed her eyes directly towards Alec who could not help but look away from the werewolf awkwardly as he moved to the side to allow Eric to take in the small framed, pale skinned girl behind him; the young vampire smiled at him a little as Eric took in the blue and green eyes that shone due to her copper hair.
"Fuck me your tall." The young girl cried. Sam and Gaspard both surprised at Eric's calm demeanor. "I'm Hannah, Essex Marshall."
"Your the one who has replaced Elizabeth?"
"Yep."
"How did that happen?"
"Sam bit her head off."
"She was 800 years old. What did she do to piss you off?" Eric responded, looking over towards Sam who pulled herself up with pride. Gaspard however cleared his throat, changing the subject once again as he pulled Eric's attention back to the werewolf Alpha.
"However much we are enjoying this reunion, I believe we are needed somewhere." Gaspard expressed, his eyes boring deeply into Eric's who calmly looked towards him. Eric nodded his head before asking the group to follow him. He headed back towards the stairs that led back towards Robyn's studio, talking calmly towards the others who were asking relevant questions.
Eric asked them to be as quiet as they could when they walked into the room before he pressed in the pertinent code and held open the door for the small group. Eric could not help but smile inwardly as he took in the enthralled expressions of the group he had brought with him. He took in the wondrous expression that was shining on the young Marshalls features before her eyes bulged from her head when she took in whose voices she was hearing.
Robyn was facing them, standing in a private booth to herself with her music stand in front of her, a large pair of headphones resting delicately over her ears as she listened to the music that had been recorded earlier that day. It was now hers and the other Robins turn to record their voices over the track.
Eric smiled towards Matthew, Chris and Dominic who were watching, feet tapping to the rhythm of the music as they listened to the start of the music.
"What take is this?" Eric questioned, looking over towards the technician who was working on the sound desk.
"The third. I'm surprised, she normally gets it done within the first take."
"She wants it perfect. It's not her reputation on the line here." Eric responded before going quiet so he could watch his Fiancé work and allowed the others to witness not many people had the privilege to watch.
Hey, do you remember
How we would stay up all night
Talking about our destiny
And I played the piano
And you would strum on your guitar
Those were the days
Eric could see Robin started singing, allowing the breath in his lungs to musically travel over the notes as he started the song, a small smile on his features as he portrayed the emotions of the song. Robyn was swaying to the music, obviously not having noticed the small group that had arrived to watch.
If only you could see me now
I live my dream, I owe it all to you
I owe it to you
Robyn pulled in a large lungful of air as she mentally listened for her cue and for the notes she needed to sing. Suddenly, the room was filled with a female voice, singing a higher harmony with Robin, the two voices joining together with an angelic sound as Robyn smiled towards her singing partner, the pair of them pulling different faces as they reached their designated notes. The last line was sung by Robin.
Isn't it crazy,
yeah isn't it crazy
It's all because of you
All because of you
As Robyn sung the first line of her verse, she moved towards the microphone, a large smile on her features as she looked towards the ceiling, her voice travelling into the microphone funnel that was positioned in front of her, her voice caressing the words and the emotions of the song as her powerful voice brought life to the song as the two voices alternated on the last two lines.
It's all because of you,
oh All because of you,
oh I know that if the sky would fall I'd survive it all
Because of you, oh
Robin sung the first line, his voice moving in a walking rift at the end of the line as his voice sung the notes. Robyn mimicked the line, her female voice bringing a very emotional and romantic quality to the song as the pair continued to sing together, Robyn once again providing a high harmony as Robin moved into the next verse,
I reach for the horizon
Whenever I've got days of doubt
Bringing me down
So even if disaster strikes
I close my eyes and then I'm next to you
I´m right there with you, hey
Robyn allowed Robin to sing, her body still moving in time with the beat as she looked towards Robin, the pair of them smiling together as Robyn repeated his line after a moments pause. She filled her lungs once again, pushing up her diaphragm to get the power behind her voice as she sung the next verse.
Yeah isn't it crazy, isn't it crazy
It´s all because of you
All because of you
Eric looked down towards Sam who was watching intently on the musical marvel that was happening in front of her. Eric knew that Sam was a fan of Robyn's music, and she had been one of the only people to encourage Robyn to advance in this career, so Eric knew, that as she watched this amazing duet being recorded in front of her, pride was washing over her body as she listened to the chorus being recorded like the pervious one, but Robyn was adding her own walking rifts to the end of her long notes.
It's all because of you, oh
All because of you, oh
It's all coz' of you.
Robin's elegant voice moved over the first line while Robyn's took over for the second. However, Eric smiled when the two of them joined together to powerfully build the song, both of them holding long powerful notes that brought shivers down everyone's spine, large smiles washing onto their features as they watched.
I know that if the sky would fall I'd survive it all
Because of you, oh
It's all 'cause of you Because of you (Hey-ey, hey-ey)
Because of you (Hey-ey)
It's all 'cause of you
I know that if the sky would fall I'd survive it all
Because of you, oh
It's all because of you, oh
Because of you, oh
The pair joined in one last chorus, Robyn adding her own spin to the words before she finished the song with the soft, emotive notes of her voice as she released the air in her lungs, her eyes closed as she moved with the music before she flickered her violet eyes open and smiled gently towards Robin who was also smiling towards her. The pair of them then looked towards the producer who nodded his head.
Eric watched as she removed her headphones and skipped towards Robin as the pair of them embraced. They were both talking animatedly as Robyn heaved open the door and allowed the pair of them through. It was in that moment that Robyn finally noticed Sam and her friends standing in front of her, large smiles of admiration sparkling on their features as Robyn's own smiles took over her lips.
"You're here!" Robyn laughed, rushing over to Sam and wrapped her arms around her friend, careful not to displace her too much in her excitement before she pulled back, holding her friend at arms length as she studied her. "You're looking amazing." Robyn smiled as she gave a pointed look down towards the swell of her abdomen, just for her to laugh and engulf her into a hug once again. "It's good to see you." She whispered as Sam simply laughed at her enthusiasm, knowing how the achievement of that fantastic recording must have been affecting Robyn.
When Robyn finally pulled away she could see Gaspard smiling fondly at the interaction, before she turned to face her friend. She took in his scars, all his imperfections, and as usual, as she stood in his presence she did not feel like the only scarred one of the groups. Her own smile washed onto her features as the pair of the smiled at each other.
"Not your taste in music I know." Robyn smiled, obviously knowing what he was going to say before she stepped into a welcoming hug from Gaspard before she once again pulled away and stepped towards Eric who grasped hold of her hand.
"Robyn, you've met Hannah before, but this is her boyfriend Alec." Eric stated as he lifted his hand to introduced Alec, a name that seemed to jog something in her memory.
"That's right." Robyn said with a smile as she held out her hand "You're the vampire that Eric had a small run in a hundred or so years ago." She finished, noticing how a surprised expression lifted to his features before he took her hand, planting a small kiss to the skin on the back of her hand.
"I am." He replied with a smile and then took a step back towards Hannah who was a bundle of excitement. Robyn could only smile towards Hannah, who was, like last time, trembling with excitement after having witnessed her recording session, as well as knowing that she was to spend the next few days with her.
"Hey Hannah." Robyn voiced, unaware of Hannah launching herself at the young hybrid, her arms clinging onto Robyn's neck as the celebrity stumbled, adjusting her footing as she tried to hold herself as well as Hannah's enthusiastic form. Robyn could only chuckle, Eric's arm wrapped around her waist to aid in her support as she placed her own arms around the baby vampire. "It's good to see you." Robyn voiced again, nothing but humour in her voice as she pulled away from the auburn-haired vampire.
"That song was amazing! When is it coming out as a Single? Please oh please sign my copy!" Hannah enthused as she jumped back towards Alec who was smiling tenderly towards her before he engulfed her pale hand with his own.
0-0-0
Sam stared in awe at Robyn's reasonably sized house that was well furnished and decorated by old artifacts that the werewolf knew to be Eric's. Sam was directed into the living room, the two French doors were open, allowing the cool Louisianan breeze to be blowing through the netted curtains, while the fireplace was dormant, voided of firewood due to the humidity of the summer weather.
However, as Sam looked next to her, it was not just her that was reveling in the comfortable home of a young celebrity. Hannah had her mouth hanging open as she took in the high ceilings that were adjourned with heavy-wood beams that seemed to support the mechanisms that hung over the large windows.
Sam smiled when Robyn headed through the large oak door, her hands full of large suitcases that they were decanting from the cars to her home. Eric and Gaspard followed with more suitcases hanging between their arms or in their hands before they shoved them to the cream carpet in the hallway, Gaspard sighing before he collapsed his back to the elegant twisting staircase that led to the second floor.
"Thanks Robyn." Sam expressed as she turned towards her friend who was leaning with her arms folded across her chest as she leant her shoulder to the archway. "We could have easily stayed in a hotel."
"It's no problem, we have loads of room, besides if we have a problem Alcide can sleep on the sofa."
"He moved back in with you then?" Samantha questioned with a small sad knowing smile that Robyn returned with a small nod to the head.
"Where's the cubby?" Hannah asked, unaware of the small conversation Robyn and Sam were sharing as she continued to look around the bright home, the lights and lamps emitting a small warm glow around the building as the supernatural races all seemed to converge within the house, not seeming to care about the rivalry that spanned centuries of their shared ancestry.
"We don't have one." Eric responded as he stepped towards Robyn's back who looked over her shoulder before her eyes drifted back to Hannah. The young vampire just stared at them with a bewildered expression etched to her features as she tried to understand what the ancient vampire was saying. "When we purchased this property I ensured major modifications were done so it was an inhabited building for a vampire."
"How?" Gaspard asked, obviously curious about Eric's last statement as he too moved into the lounge while Alec smiles and stood next to his fellow vampire.
"This building is light tight. Large blinds cover the windows and doors when the sun is shining. This means that if Eric ever had to deal with business during the day he would not have to fear the sun. It also means he does not have to sleep in a coffin like he did when he lived at Fangtasia. We're currently modifying a home in London." Robyn expressed with a smile "And besides, it is very difficult to find a double coffin now a days." Robyn joked, a large smile lighting her features as she looked towards Eric who allowed one of his own very rare smiles to drift onto his lips.
"I have another question." Gaspard voiced as he looked back towards his hosts who urged him to continue. "Your eyes Robyn." He finished, noticing how both Eric and Robyn tensed before the singer looked up towards her vampire who simply nodded his head as if she should answer her question.
"Maybe you should sit down." Robyn stated awkwardly as she motioned towards the beige upholstered furniture. Her companions all sat, Sam struggled a little more than the others, but with her being in her second trimester of her pregnancy Robyn knew that to be the reason. "I'm not sure if you guys have read in the magazines lately but I spoke to a variety of different journalist about me wearing contact lenses. I said it was a gimmick in my profession but I have to admit that that statement is a lie." Robyn finished, taking in the confused looks that were pointed towards her and Eric.
"About a year ago my King informed me of a situation involving a coven of witches that were practicing their magic out of a shop in Shreveport. Consequently, after I faced them I was cursed and lost my memory about who I was. The only thing I could remember was what I was and I had a very strong emotion drawing me back here and to Robyn."
"The next few days saw me facing Marnie, as well as trying to comfort Eric who seemed more Human than I had ever seen him. But, as the situation got more serious my pack, as well as Eric's fellow vampires and King faced Marnie and her witches. During the battle I was shot." Robyn expressed, her eyes falling directly towards Sam and Gaspard as they listened to her story, understanding the dangerous situation that seemed to follow them, considering Gaspard was the Alpha of the Essex pack over in England and Robyn was the Alpha of the Shreveport Pack, or she will be until she pledges the rest of her life to Eric.
"The only way I could save Robyn was to turn her but as I bit her I did not know whether the turning would be successful, I could only hope that she would survive, and after two days of retiring in the ground she awoke and held her violet eyes." Eric finished.
"How can this be? It is unheard of Werewolves changing into a Vampire." Alec voiced, being one of the only ones brave enough to utter the question that everyone were too scared of asking, Eric simply smiled a little towards him.
"Robyn's blood smells and tastes very unlike other werewolf blood. It was one of the attributes that drew me to her originally, but we are unsure the significance of this. We both believe however that this could be an attribute for her successful turning." Eric answered.
"And your Werewolf characteristics? Can you shift?" Sam asked, worry evident in her tone of voice as she directed her question directly towards her old friend. Robyn just gave her a very small comforting smile.
"I am." Robyn said with a smile. "My abilities are very dissimilar to both a vampire and a werewolf."
"What do you mean?" Sam asked again.
"Well, my eyesight, sense of smell and hearing has been amplified to that of a vampires. I do not need to eat regular food as often but I do have to consume blood. It's not as regularly as Eric, for I can go up to two weeks without the need to feed, but I find I feel very weak and out of character if I go that length of time without feeding." Robyn declared as she once again looked towards Sam and Gaspard, obviously knowing these two needed her to tell them more than the others purely because of their lengthy relationship. "Another vampiric trait I have picked up on is the fact I now cry blood tears. But I still have a heartbeat, I regulate my own body temperature, baring it is a few degrees lower than an average human and I can also walk out in daylight if it is not for an extended period of time."
"Bet that is coming in handy considering most of your interviews and working hours are during the day." Gaspard stated with a small smile which Robyn and Eric returned.
"But can you still shift?" Sam urged, knowing how important it was for a werewolf to be able to divulge in the transformation from human to wolf.
"I can, but the process is much more difficult than what I am used to. I have to shift between forms every five days or so but the process if very painful. My vampire and werewolf halves are pretty much fighting against each other. The vampire in me is trying to heal my body, to stop the transformation while the animal within me is determined to get out. When I change I can feel my muscles knotting and changing, I hear my bones cracking and snapping into place as they shorten into those of my wolf form. The whole process if very humiliating; when I change I do it in privacy, I do not even allow Eric to watch for I know how disheveling I know I must look when I undergo the slow process of my transformation." Robyn explained, noticing how the atmosphere in the room radiated with understanding and loss at the same time as confusion as Robyn tried to explain how her life had changed so dramatically within the last twelve month as she tried to get more control within herself and her abilities.
"Can you glamour people? Can you run as fast as us?" Hannah asked
"Yes, to both." Robyn replied.
"She has also surprised me at her ability to levitate already. Only extremely old vampires have the ability to fly." Eric responded, noting how a look of shock registered on Alec's expression, for he was unable to fly.
"Do you believe that the reason she can do so many things a vampire can is due to her strong vampire lineage?" Alec asked, his question pointed towards Eric who seemed to understand what the other vampire was trying to address.
"I believe it helps yes. I'm not a young vampire and my Maker Godric was far older, one of the oldest vampires on the planet before he met the true death. But as we said before, the difference in her blood may have also contributed."
"We still don't know much about the whole thing. Due to the lack of information to us; the Vampire Authority have never heard of a Vampire-Werewolf hybrid before, it is much of a learning curve to us that it is to them."
"Jag tror det är bäst vi ändrar konversationen nu älskling. Jag är inte bekväm med att prata om den myndighet med dem." (I think it's best we change the conversation now honey. I'm not comfortable talking about the authority with them.) Robyn uttered, her mouth stating her words in Eric's native tongue as the others looked at the couple. Gaspard nudged Sam in an 'I told you so' kind of way as if to reiterate a point he had once expressed to determine whether Eric was Swedish and if Robyn could indeed communicate with him in this different language. Sam just rolled her eyes.
"Som du vill" (As you wish) Eric responded with a smile.
"So, I guess it's time we show you to your rooms. You guys must be exhausted" Robyn smiled, her voice snapping them all from their conversation as she slapped her hands to her thighs as she pulled herself to her feet and allowed everyone to do the same.
As the group all headed back into the hallway Gaspard, Eric, Alec and Robyn all grasped hold of the suitcases, maneuvering the offending objects as they prepared to travel up the winding staircase up to the landing. Robyn simply moved her freehand to her fringe, tucking the hair around her ear as she felt the jagged scar on her cheek before she felt someone's hand on her shoulder.
"Let me take those suitcases Robyn." Gaspard expressed as he held out his free hand towards her. Robyn just smiled, feeling his kind gesture before she shook her head with a smile.
"Vampire strength remember." She smiled which in turn caused one of his own, Robyn noticing how his scars disfigured his features, the same way hers did.
"I bet Alcide was furious when he found out."
"He was the one who made Eric do it."
"Really?"
"Always the tone of surprise. It's funny to see just what family are prepared to do at the prospect of loosing a sister."
"And Janice?"
"Has been nothing but supportive." Robyn finished as she pulled open the door at the end of the long corridor; the others behind her taking in the elegant art that was pressed to her walls as they walked passed a variety of different closed off doors that led to other bedrooms and bathrooms. "Here we are. This is your room." Robyn responded as she allowed Sam and Gaspard to get settled. "Alec and Hannah you're the next room on your left." Robyn voiced as she pointed in the direction of the room before she headed further into the room that Gaspard and Sam would be using. "You can use the wardrobes and chest of draws." Robyn explained as she placed the suitcases she was holding and placed them on the bed "The ensuite bathroom is the door just by the large windows, you should find everything you need in there but if you need something don't hesitate to ask." Robyn smiled just for her to be cut off from finishing her sentence when a loud apology resonated from somewhere down the corridor.
Robyn couldn't help the snort that rose from the back of her throat when she took in the panicked expression on Alcide's features. Hannah was apologizing profusely from having opened the door to his bedroom; unaware that it was the wrong room that Robyn had told her she was staying in.
As Robyn looked on, she realised that Alcide must have been evacuating his room to head towards the bathroom and bumped into the young vampire as she opened the door at the same time he reached for the door handle. But as she looked at the flushed colour on his cheeks she knew he felt embarrassed by the lack of a shirt as Hannah secretly ogled at his toned and muscled chest that was on display.
"Hannah, this is my brother Alcide." Robyn introduced moving closer towards Eric who was calmly looking towards the interaction, his hands still holding onto one of Hannah's suitcases as he was prepared to place it into the room before they were stopped by Alcide.
"It's ah, it's nice to meet you." Hannah stumbled, obviously overcome with embarrassment as she lifted her eyes hesitantly towards Alcide who was rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.
"You too." He mumbled as his eyes lifted towards Gaspard and Sam who were beaming at him, having not seen the beta wolf for several years.
"Good to see you Alcide." Gaspard spoke as he moved towards the taller wolf as they shook hands, the pair of them obviously relaxing as the last awkward moments washed away from the small group that were reuniting with old friends.