Disclaimer:
Anything you recognise belongs to the creative genius that is Charlaine Harris and/or Alan Ball. I'm just playing around with their universe(s).
A/N
I'm uncertain if it's needed but will nevertheless throw in a trigger-warning just in case: This chapter briefly touches on physical abuse and rape.
xXx
10
The way the baby vampire had handled herself, pulling back from the human with just a gentle reminder had made Godric feel rather proud of her. It took a lot of willpower for someone so young, and he had somewhat expected to have to physically remove her after seeing how… obviously she had enjoyed herself.
It had been fairly good showing of the human to keep as still as he did while Irin fed, and it really shouldn't have come as a shock to the young female that his body had responded to her administrations.
But clearly, it had.
Godric was by the bed, a hand clamped around the back of her neck just before she struck at the startled human underneath her, pulling her back from the attempt at ripping out his jugular.
Snarling, she struggled against him with all the ferociousness of a trapped, feral beast, but he simply held her out at arm's length and away from the bed, looking down at the human whose eyes had widened in shock over the transformation of the cute little thing he'd just had in his lap.
"I believe it would be best if you wait in the foyer," the vampire stated calmly. "Irin will need a moment to calm down before she heals you."
"What did I do?" Alexander breathed, staring at the wild girl for a moment longer before he started buttoning his shirt.
"Nothing."
The young man frowned, finishing up and getting to his feet, careful to keep out of the baby vampire's reach. "But she seemed fine during the transaction? If there is something I did to startle her… baby vampires are my specialty, sir. If there is anything I can do…"
Godric sighed softly. The guy seemed genuinely concerned that he had upset the creature currently struggling wildly to get free so she could kill him, which might make him a kind person, but it said nothing good for his chances of making it past his 30th birthday. "You have chosen a high-risk profession, young one. New vampires are notoriously unstable, and Irin simply reacted… poorly to your sexual interests."
Alexander blinked, and a small part of Godric hoped he was reconsidering his career choice. But then the brown eyes turned soft as he looked at her again. "Oh, you poor girl."
A furious hiss was all the reply he got, and Godric had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the empathy radiating from him; it took a special kind of Samaritan to pity the person who'd just tried to kill you.
"If possible, I would like to speak to her again before I leave," he said before nodding at the elder vampire and exiting the room, closing the door behind him.
Godric refocused on his charge. "Calm yourself."
She growled in response, trying to twist around in his grip, undoubtedly in an attempt at clawing at his eyes or something equally painful; there was no glimmer of humanity left at that moment, just wild, primal fury at being trapped.
The dark-haired vampire sighed, shaking her a little, which only caused her growling to pitch and drop with the movements. "No one tried to harm you, kitten. I know you were startled and I don't want to have to make you submit; Please, calm down."
As he already knew they would, his words fell on deaf ears. By the stars, he was too old for this! Too old and too aware of the painful switch that had flicked in the girl's mind. Nothing short of physically forcing her into submission would snap her back, but placing his fangs in her throat in the ultimate display of his dominance when she was in this state, like his maker had done to him, would only remind her of the one who had caused her such trauma. And that wasn't something he wished to do. Ever.
"Please," he repeated, before opening his fingers from the vice-like grip and letting the girl go as he gathered his power around him, preparing to rebuke her inevitable attack as gently as possible.
She swirled around to face him with an angry flash of fangs, but as she caught sight of his powerful aura she shrunk back, eyes wide, until she was pressed against the wall where she sunk down in a crouch with her slim arms around herself. The growling never ceased, but turned softer as if she knew it would not warn him off, but she also couldn't fight it back.
"Irin."
She curled up on herself, turning her face away from him so she was as small a target for him as possible.
She knew she'd broken his rules by attacking the human, and she knew she was going to get punished. Flashes of the many ways the vampire who had turned her had punished her kept shooting through her brain as she huddled up and waited for her new master to hurt her for her disobedience.
"Irin, I will never harm you. This I swear to you," his soft voice sounded from the other side of the room. There was sadness in it, she realised with surprise.
"And furthermore, no one will be allowed to lay a finger on you in my house. You are safe here, with me." He moved slowly towards her, she could hear from the soft brushing of his clothes, until he was right next to her, sinking down in a crouch.
But he just sat there, without making a move to touch her in any way, and as time passed she managed to calm down enough to take in his words.
This was her saviour, the light in her darkened world.
Slowly, she peered up at him, finding sorrow and pity in his ancient eyes but neither anger nor malice. He was safe.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, unfolding a little as she bathed in his serene aura – like a flower to the sun. She needed his calmness and protection as much as plants needed the light.
"I know," he replied softly. "You did well, Irin."
Violet eyes blinked at him in surprise. Was he testing her? "I disobeyed you, ma… ker. I know you must punish me." She didn't quite manage to keep the quiver out of her voice, but she could submit to him; she needed him too much not to.
Godric's eyes travelled over her face, and she realised that fat tears of blood were sliding down her cheeks, but she tilted her chin up, calming her mind. He'd promised not to hurt her. Had promised.
"You fed without harming the human, stopped when you needed to and managed to calm yourself down without me having to force you into submission. I am proud of you, little kitten," his soothing voice assured her. "I can…"
Irin launched herself into his arms, curling up on his thighs that offered a suitable seat in his crouched position while burying her head in his shoulder. Safe, safe, safe! If she could have somehow melted into his embrace she would have, but she sated her need by digging her fingers into his back muscles and pressing her chest into his, rubbing bloody streaks from her eyes all over his shirt.
Stone arms closed gently around her back, shielding her completely from the darkness.
"You need to understand that what happened before was not Alexander's fault."
The redhead stiffened, pressing back the memory. She did not wish to think about that against her, or the so very repulsive feelings it had stirred in her before those black memories came crashing. She especially didn't want to think about those.
"When you feed from a human," he continued, voice gaining a sliver of steel to ensure she paid attention, "and that human is willing or Glamoured, it can be very stimulating to them. You caused his desire, Irin. You were in control."
"It is disgusting!" she hissed against his shoulder, clutching harder at his back.
"No human can force you." Godric's voice was soft but steady. "No human can humiliate you or harm you in that way. Every bit of lust a man will ever have for you is yours to control. There is nothing disgusting about primal urges – and especially not your own. They are a basic part of you."
She shook her head, not wanting to listen to him; all she wanted was to not think about the horrors so she could escape the fear, and what he was saying was forcing her to concentrate on subjects too raw to even consider. "Please," she whispered, hoping he would understand and relent.
He sighed, grabbing her gently by the chin and tipping her blotchy face up so he could look in her eyes. "We will have to talk about him one day, Child. But for now, I will not press the matter."
Irin pressed a grateful kiss to his fingers when he loosened his grip, resting her cheek back against his chest as she let his radiating tranquillity envelop her mind in a soothing touch.
The ancient vampire allowed her to rest against him for a little while longer before he straightened up so he could place her on her feet – but she still clung to him like a stubborn burdock, fingers twisting at the back of his shirt to keep close to him.
"You will need to apologise to the human. And heal him," he informed her as he wiped at the drying blood on her face with a thumb. "But perhaps you should clean up first so you do not risk startling him."
She frowned, looking up at her mentor. "I can heal humans?"