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:
Wow, all of the questions!
Ok, from the top, miss French22 (*cough* and if you registered I'd have PM'ed this to you ages ago *cough*)
She didn't react to his age because she already knew he was ancient, and the number didn't really register in the midst of zompire apocalypse. There may or may not be a small bit of 'old man' mocking later on.
Nora… well, what can I say other than 'I whole-heartedly agree' ;) (and brilliant timing)
Irin's 20. She lied about her age. The reason as to why should pop up sometime as the story progresses. Full disclosure? I'd originally intended for her to be younger than 20, but then I realised I sort of wanted to change it to M, and sometimes the Americans get twitchy about teens and naughty bits (sorry guys), so… she's 20.
Maker-bond-thingy: There's a wiki for this stuff? Anyway, yeah it means there's no bright thread linking him to Nora – plot demandz it so.
xXx
15
As had been the norm since she first arrived, Irin found herself alone in the cubby when her conscience slipped back after the sun had set. Remembering what waited on the other side of the protective hatch made her roll over under the duvet to rub her face against the soft pillows that smelled like Godric, all the while fervently wishing that they didn't have to go meet this King. She'd much rather stay here, in the safety of his home, learning what it meant to be a vampire, learning about him, finding her way out of the darkness…
But he was going, her beacon of light, and so she was following, even if it meant she had to be among strangers; as long as she could seek shelter in his arms she could tolerate the presence of others. And high heels. Her nose scrunched up – it wasn't that she'd never worn them as a human, but even then she'd preferred comfort, and now, as a vampire, the sensation of the ground under her bare feet was like the wind against her face; refreshing and filled with information. She could literally feel the vibrations of animals and humans from afar, determine their number, direction, speed… she could sense the grass growing underneath her feet, and the trees brimming with life when she was crouched on their branches. Why any vampire ever wanted to give that up for something as ridicules as shoes was beyond her. But… he needed her to wear them, so she would.
Taking one, last sniff of his pillow she got up, threw open the hatch and jumped out. Stilling her immediate desire to hunt for him she settled for cracking the bedroom door open and listening for him. A soft murmur from the other end of the house appeased that tiny sliver of fear she'd woken up with every night since he took her home, the twinge in her gut that whispered about being left behind, without him.
Shaking off the shiver of pure terror that thought brought she closed the door and headed for the bathroom, quickly stripping out of the linen shirt and drawstring pants she'd commandeered from his side of the closet for sleepwear after seeing what type of 'clothes' Isabel had thought appropriate for nightwear, and getting into the shower.
The black-haired woman had also supplied her with plenty of sweetly scented soaps and lotions, exquisite quality and something she would probably have enjoyed luxuriating in when she was still a human, but she automatically reached for Godric's shampoo, sighing happily as the delicate, woody scent she had come to recognise as part of his smell filled her senses. If his entire aroma could somehow be distilled she'd bathe in it.
A stab of longing for the true embrace of her maker rather than just his lingering fragrance made her finish up in the shower, speed blurring her movements as she rushed to dry her body and hair – and comb it through - before zipping to the bedroom to change into the annoyingly restrictive, black dress Isabel had decided she should wear for the arrival at the court.
Just as she finished zipping it up and rounded to sneer at the black heels now located next to the bed that didn't really serve any purpose apart from make the room appear more bedroom-y, Godric's soft voice reached her, calling her name from somewhere in the house.
Eager to obey his call she ignored the shoes – with any luck maybe everyone would forget about them before it was too late anyway – and zipped out the door towards the origin of his voice.
As it turned out, it had come from the entry hall. And he wasn't alone.
Irin skitted to a halt at the sight of the slender brunette standing far-too-close to him, and when she registered Godric's hand resting on the guest's upper arm in an altogether unpleasantly intimate gesture, her fangs dropped and an involuntary snarl left her throat.
"Kitten," her maker scolded gently, sending her a firm look. "We have talked about that; there is no need for rudeness."
She narrowed her eyes at the stranger, but closed her lips firmly together so her fangs were hidden; she still hadn't mastered how to retract them at will, and Godric had been pretty clear on his no-fangs stance.
The woman eyed her with cold displeasure – apparently, the instant dislike was mutual. "So, it's true?" she muttered, halfway to herself it seemed. Her eyes flickered back to Godric. "You have a new daughter?"
"It is." Godric reached out a hand to the redhead, a smile on his face as if the tension between the two females didn't have a near physical presence. "Come here, Irin. There's someone I want you to meet."
She slid closer to her maker until she got near enough to be able to clasp on to his hand, and then promptly pressed herself against him, staring defiantly at the stranger.
"This is Chancellor Nora Gainesborough, my oldest daughter. Nora, this is Irin, your little sister." There was a brief pause, where Irin realised that he didn't know her surname, before her eyes widened in shock. She had a… a sister?! Godric had Fathered another? Had given his blood to this woman, taught her, spent his nights and days with her…
White-hot anger and pain whirled in her stomach, which she gave air to with a livid hiss. At Godric, rather than the other female.
The dark haired man looked mildly astonished at her reaction, the hand he hadn't clasped in hers lifting off Nora's arm to wrap around his youngest' shoulders. "Calm yourself, kitten."
A sliver of calm washed over her when she felt his arm around her shoulders – and he was no longer touching her – enough for her to realise that the pain and anger was… jealousy. She blinked in confusion of the very… human feeling.
"You neglected to tell her that you have sired others, didn't you?" Nora stared at the redhead with cool calculation.
Godric looked at her, a minor crease between his brows. "It has not come up before now. She is very young still."
Others? Irin felt the jealousy twinge in her stomach again. There were more?! She had to share her maker with an unknown number of siblings – of whom she was most likely the only one he hadn't raised from the ground with. A small growl escaped her, before Godric's admonishing glance quashed it.
"Yes, I see that. And feral, it would seem." Nora did a once-over of her, lingering at her bare feet. "Interesting… choice."
Godric smiled softly, ignoring the less-than-appraising tone. "It is a pleasure to see you in my home, Nora. Did you come to visit me and see your sister, or is it the meeting with the King of Texas that brought you here?"
The dark haired woman sighed softly, her cold expression not lasting as she looked at her maker, reverence taking over instead. "Rosalyn noted that you had procreated. I admit; I was curious, but officially I am here to oversee the proceedings at the meeting with your King. We expect any infestation of the Northern parts of the Americas to spread from the South, and Texas is therefore of strategic interest. I will be going as, ah, a consultant."
The ancient vampire's smile increased slightly. "You were always the tactician."
He sounded proud. Irin did not appreciate it. She dug her fingers into his shoulder, and was rewarded with a stroke over her long hair, but his attention stayed with his older daughter.
"I had the best training." A light shimmer of amusement shone in Nora's blue-grey eyes. "Hunting with you and Eric was always such a strategic exercise; you never just let me pick the easiest target!"
Irin's jaw dropped. "You went hunting with her?!" How was this fair! He hadn't taken her out to hunt, and seemed slightly queasy at even bringing donors to the house. And that… tramp had had the pleasure of hunting for prey alongside him! "Why do you refuse to hunt with me, when you have with her?!"
Nora's eyes widened. "You don't hunt with her?"
Godric frowned at the girl in his grasp, who was currently looking at him as if he'd betrayed her on the most fundamental level, quivering bottom lip and all. "I was different, then. Do you want to harm innocents?"
He was infuriatingly impossible to argue with. "Of course not," she sulked, glaring at him. "But I want to…"
"Yes, thank you, I know what you want." The slightest hint of sharpness had snuck into his voice, causing her to instantly drop her gaze from his. That tone was only rolled out when she had pushed him far enough. "And I will take you hunting when you have better control, but not until you can feed from a male donor without incidents. There will be no accidental killings in my area from my own Child."
"Oh, Eric is going to love this," she heard the other female mutter, but Irin's attention snapped solely to her Maker, a brilliant smile gracing her lips. "You promise? We can hunt together?"
Godric's overbearing sigh was quelled by her pleased squeal. He patted her hair and cocked an eyebrow at her. "When you have full control, so don't get too excited just yet. Focus on the meeting at hand, yes?"
The mention of the imminent meeting snapped her out of her moment of excitement, and she glanced to this Nora person. Her sister. "How many others are there?"
Dark, shaped eyebrows rose at her. "Siblings? We have an older brother, too. I'm surprised he hasn't been here to see you yet."
Just one more. She tried hard not to growl in frustration. Just one. And if he hadn't been here yet, maybe he'd stay away. She clutched Godric's arm closer, wishing Nora would not have bothered to visit either.
"I have kept the bond silent for some time. He does not know about her."
Nora stared at Godric as if he'd committed a sacrilege, but his only reaction was to give Irin's hand a squeeze and say: "Go get your suitcase and shoes, little one. The King is not a patient man; you two can continue getting acquainted in the car."
xXx
A/N:
Yes, I'm working on 'I See You', so hopefully that'll be updated next.