Bella woke up panting and saturated with sweat. It clung uncomfortably to her hair as she tried to catch her breath. Bella looked around the unfamiliar dark hotel room as she calmed down. She had a horrible dream, it felt so real. Sookie was in danger. Her gut screamed at her strongly to go help Sookie. She could only remember flashes from her dream...
Sookie being punched in the face by a huge bald man, he was lifting up her dress and she was screaming for help... a bunch of vampires rushing in a huge church hall, the leader, a man with a hat saying to 'kill them all'... Eric lying on a table covered in silver, it searing into his flesh and small wisps of smoke was rising from the wounds, she heard him let out a small hiss... an explosion and Eric jumping on top of Sookie to shield her... Sookie crying watching a blue flame on a roof looking over a city at sunrise.
That was all Bella could remember, but it was enough. She knew her dream couldn't be real but she felt a strange sense of panic and urgency to go see her cousin. It was strange and confusing but impossible to ignore. Pushing this feeling down to calm herself she decided to focus. Bella tumbled out of the bed clumsily and headed for her ensuite bathroom. As Bella turned the shower on and waited for it to heat up, she formulated a plan in her head for the night and to save Sookie.
A few hours later, Bella left her hotel suite with a determined expression on her face. She had left Eric a note,
Gone to the fellowship to find Sookie. Don't worry I'll stay away from her but I need to go. I don't think she's safe. You should come at sundown, something's not right. Trust me, Bella
Bella walked to the elevator, her dress gently flowing around her. She wore a white sundress with various multicoloured flowers on it. It was not something she would typically wear but figured it looked 'churchy' enough. It was a dress from the huge selection of clothes Eric had bought her. Her hair fell in soft waves down her back and around her face, she had clipped some of it up at the back to make it look like she made an effort. She also wore tiny dangling gold earrings in the shape of a miniature leaf that again was gifted by Eric.
She left the hotel and flagged down a cab. She asked to go to the fellowship of the sun church. The driver gave her a funny look. Seeing her exiting a vampire hotel then going there, she supposed. She sat in the car and watched the streets of Dallas. It was a typical sunny southern day. Bella rolled down the window a little, it was getting quite stuffy in the cab.
Bella went over her plan. She would just go to the church, look around for Sookie, watch her and make sure she was safe. That's all. It's simple really. 'Just stay out of sight and keep an eye on her Bella, that's all', she thought.
The car stopped in front of a beautiful church. She handed the driver money and got out of the car. She observed the building as she went in. 'Such a beautiful building, too bad it's used to spread such hate', she thought glumly.
She entered the church without being noticed. She looked around searching for Sookie. Bella found her. She was with a tall man with light brown hair and a goofy face. They were holding hands for some reason and talking to a man she recognised as Steve Newlin, 'oh great, that dick'. Bella was not a hateful person but Steve Newlin was a dick, plain and simple. Since she had successfully found Sookie and she seemed to be safe. That was a relief. But to be sure Bella walked over and grabbed a couple ani-vampire leaflets and sat down on the pews pretending to read them whilst keeping an eye on the blonde telepath.
Bella saw Steve wave over a very tall bald man. Sookie was now being lead out of the main hall to a more secluded area of the church. When the bald man turned she recognised him from her dream and alarm bells started ringing in her head. 'God-dammit, Sook can you hear me? Get out of here!' She called out internally hoping her telepathic cousin would hear but Sookie didn't so much as blink in her direction. Bella stood and followed casually, pretending to be checking out the church. She followed them deeper and deeper into the building, 'where the hell are they going?!' She thought, panicking. Something was definitely wrong.
She fell back a little so she wouldn't be noticed, but when she started to follow again, a voice called out,
"Oh hey there sweetie, your not allowed in this part of the church. It's being redecorated" A blond women with a sickly sweet voice spoke to Bella. She had on a yellow sun dress and looked like a typical church go-er.
"Oh I'm so sorry, I just got lost trying to find the toilets. My names Isabella Swan" She spoke in her youngest voice and held her hand out timidly. The women's green eyes softened and she shook her hand gently.
"Well, hi there Isabella. I'm Sarah" She replied good-naturedly. Bella observed the women in front of her, she seemed sweet and kind. Just then a man rounded corner. It was Steve Newlin. Bella screamed internally, 'Where is Sookie?! What the hell have they done to her', she started panicking and hoped it didn't show on her face.
"Sarah, honey. What you doin' back here and who's your friend?" Steve asked in a extremely condescending sweet voice. He seemed to be giving Sarah a look telling her off. '...Honey? Oh no that must be Sarah Newlin, his wife! Oh shit!' Steve Newlin looked at Bella suspiciously and she started to sweat. Sarah Newlin wrapped her arm around Bella in a comforting gesture,
"Steve dear, I was just helping out Isabella here. She seemed to have gotten lost" The woman turned to smile at her warmly, "Don't worry honey, your not in any trouble. Steve, don't scare the sweet girl. Your looking at her like she's committed a crime!" Sarah exclaimed, gently scolding her husband.
Steve Newlin seemed to accept this answer well enough and smiled brightly at Bella,
"I apologize, little lady. You can't be too careful now can you? What with spies coming in and trying to take down our church" Steve said and held out his hand for her to shake. She took it and and gave a shocked and disturbed expression. 'They must know about Sookie!' Steve, mistaking the horror on her face smiled and puffed up, "Oh yes. Some people would betray their own kind for a deal with the devil. It's despicable"
Bella calmed down a little but still looked pretty disgusted, "That's horrible Reverend Newlin. I can't believe anyone would do that" She answered blankly. Steve looked delighted and Bella internally rolled her eyes. She was led away by the perpetually happy couple while Steve droned on and on.
It was almost an hour later Bella finally escaped the terrible twosome. She couldn't believe Steve blabbered on so much. He mainly just repeated himself and spoke the biggest load of crap she had ever heard. Bella crept back to the hall where she saw Sookie being led down and walked deeper and deeper into the church. She saw a flight of stairs leading downwards towards a basement and decided to check it out.
Bella walked down the stairs slowly trying not to make a sound, her heart was racing in her chest and her palms were sweating. She tested the door and it appeared to be open. She slowly opened it and peaked her head around to see if anyone was there. It was a typical basement, very large and seeming to span the whole on the church. Just as she was scanning the room carefully, she heard someone scream,
"Bella! What in the hell are you doin' here" It was Sookie's voice. Bella jumped in fright, lost her balance and slipped. She banged her head on the ground. It took her a few moments to stand again.
"Geez Sook, no need to be so loud" Bella muttered, lifting her hand to hold her poor aching head. Sookie was in a cage with the man she was with earlier. Sookie had her hands pressed against the cage and was glaring at her.
"Isabella Swan, you get out ah here this instant. How did you even know where I was? It's too dangerous. Get back to the hotel" Sookie ordered her cousin firmly in her best imitation of Adele Stackhouse.
Bella shuffled over to the front of her cousin's cage and pressed her palms against the cage sadly, "Calm down Sook, I'm here to help. It doesn't matter. Let me help you get out" Bella answered quietly. She started fiddling with the lock.
Sookie scoffed, "What are you, a spy now? Can'ya pick locks? Just get out of here Bella. Bill will be here a sundown to get us" Sookie then moved to sit over on the far side of the cage leaning on the wall, observing her cousin.
But Bella was too determined to help her cousin and did not leave. She tried everything, even using her hair clip to try and open to lock like they did in movies. It didn't work. The man - named Hugo - started laughing at her mockingly and she scowled back. Bella started to get frustrated and the man was just plain pissing her off. She stomped over to a chair sitting in the corner and started banging it frantically against the cage. She heard Sookie shouting but couldn't make out what she was saying through the clashing noise the chair made as it hit against the cage repeatedly.
Suddenly, Bella was picked up from behind by the waist. She squealed and dropped the chair, it clattered to the floor loudly. She saw Sookie banging against the cage, screaming at the person holding her. Bella tried trashing around but her head was banged against the cage door, her vision swam and seemed to dim before promptly passed out.
Bella woke up slowly, groggily, her head pulsing in pain. She noticed she was lying down on the floor, on her back but her head was propped up on something. Her head was in a lot of pain and she just wanted to fall back asleep. She groaned and rolled onto her side, nuzzling into whatever her head was on.
Then she heard a quiet chuckle and her head started to vibrate. Bella's eyes shot open in shock she sat up quickly and looked up to the see the amused face of young man. He looked about the same age as Bella – perhaps a little older - he had very youthful looking features but a strong masculine jaw. His eyes were grey with swirls of green and blue in the mix; they looked ancient, like bottomless pits of wisdom. They were framed with thick dark lashes. His hair cut was unremarkable, just simply cut short but the rich luxurious texture and deep beautiful brown colour make it look wonderful. was cut short and was a beautiful rich brown colour. The boy's skin was pale, very pale but flawless in the light and contrasted perfectly with his hair and eyes.
Her gaze then slowly drifted down to his shoulders. He had a broad set of shoulders and held himself strongly, much like someone with a military background. He was well defined even through his plan white t-shirt, Bella could tell. He seemed better built than all boys Bella's age; he looked in peak physical condition. It was not bulging muscle but a lean and hidden power that lurked in his body. It was the type of body used to tough physical labour and not simply weight lifting. It was perfect. Just then Bella realised she had been gaping at the gorgeous stranger for quite a while.
Bella's faced burned in humiliation, she had never felt so embarrassed before. Not even with Eric the night before. She sat up and looked around her surroundings as a distraction from the enthralling stranger and saw she was in a cell of some sort. Concrete walls, huge steal door with a little barred window. She figured she must have been shoved in here with him and not with Sookie and Hugo. Bella spoke to him, hoping to ease the tension in the air as he was sitting quietly and watching her with a blank face.
She met his grey piercing eyes straight on and then looked away immediately at a point over his shoulder, "Oh, sorry about that. I'm Bella" She muttered quietly, still unable to look him in the eye. They were too powerful and wonderful. She would get lost in them if she wasn't careful. Bella sat with her legs crossed and now stared at the concrete floor, fiddling with the fingers on her lap lest she be tempted to look up and stare like an idiot.
She felt a finger under her chin and it lifted her head to look in the eyes of the stunning boy again. Bella stared at him transfixed.
"It is quite alright, min skjønnhet (my beauty). I am Godric" He replied with an undefinable but completely sexy accent. Some sort of European maybe. His voice was smooth and husky it sounded too captivating to be real. Bella was completely beguiled by him. He seemed far too perfect. She felt... strange around him, different. She felt a warmth and comforting feeling in her chest being in his presence. It hummed in satisfaction and joy by being so near him. She also started feeling a slight tingling sensation in her lower stomach. She couldn't understand her reaction to him; she had never felt like this before. No one had ever affected her so much, not even Edward.
Then the name registered in Bella's hazy mind.
"Godric? Your the sheriff? Eric sent me to get you out of here" Bella explained. She looked upon him again and studied his carefully blank but pleasant enough expression. All of his attention was focused on her and did not waver in the slightest. It made her nervous. She also felt the raw power radiating from him. He seemed like a leader, Bella thought.
Godric's expression didn't change except for a slight raise of his eyebrow, "Eric sent you?" He asked dubiously, his voice holding a little amusement. Bella blushed prettily and looked down, Godric's eyes followed her blush making Bella redden further.
"Well, uh no. He sent others and I just kind of ended up here. I'm just here in Dallas with Eric as a vacation. He's going to show me around after we found you" Bella smiled sheepishly, hoping he would not be angry for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Godric frowned ever so slightly.
"You belong to Eric?" Godric asked his tone empty, seemingly displeased, she assumed. She wasn't sure what he felt as he outwardly showed no signs of it but Bella felt like he was.
"What? Do you mean am I with him as a couple?" She asked slightly confused furrowing her brow, scrunching up her nose and tilting her head to the side. She saw Godric nod his head. She continued,
"Well no then. I am not Eric's. Not at all. We are just friends, that's it. He has a thing for my cousin Sookie and I've been helping him woo her" She explained with a little smile. Godric seemed a little satisfied with this explanation.
"Besides" Bella added lightly, "Eric's not really my type" She added, hoping that Godric would drop it. It annoyed her people automatically assumed she liked people. Why couldn't she just have attractive male friends; people thought the same about Jake. However, Godric looked entirely too interested for Bella's liking. He smiled at her revealing a glimpse at pure white teeth and two little dimples on either side of his cheeks. Bella's heart started racing and her eyes widened a little. If she thought he was gorgeous before now he looked like a god. Godric noticed Bella's reaction and his smile widened showing off his canine teeth which oddly only made him look even better. Bella started breathing a little heavier, unable to control her reaction.
"Why not? is Eric not your to preferences? Most women find him extremely attractive and the ones that do not usually favour other women" Godric added. Bella was thankful for the distraction. A slight smile still remained on Godric's lips and his eyes held a beautiful lightness in them, making them almost sparkle in delight.
Bella wanted to get off of this topic, "Well yeah, he's good looking, but for one, he's way too tall. He's huge and I am not very tall. I prefer my men human sized not sasquach. He would simultaneously dwarf me and crush me, you know" She explained calmly and he simply smirked slightly back, "He is also much too old for me" finished. Godric nodded slowly, eyes seeming to dull a little and very gently replied,
"Yes, he is. He is over a thousand years old, age in vampires make them more powerful. This puts you off?" He tilted his head to the side in question, making Bella's heart flutter. She gasped at finding out Eric's true age.
Bella was trying to wrap her head around Eric being so unbelievably old when she answered Godric, "I didn't mean it like that - vampire age. I meant like physically for a human he looks a lot older than me. He looks his thirties, I'm only eighteen. It might seem a little strange but that doesn't appeal to me, also I prefer dark to fair hair" When she looked at Godric, he seemed entirely too pleased for some strange reason.
He nodded his head once,"Ah, so you preferences seem to lie with more me?" Godric asked lightly.
"Yeah, definitely" She said immediately with a sigh of relief but eyes widened when she realised what she revealed,
"Wait, NO! That's not what I meant, I-" She struggled to explain, face now burning red and looking in horror to see the grin creep onto Godric's face.
Godric smoothly cut in, "You do not find me attractive?" His shoulders dropped a little and a tiny pout adorned his full lips. Her eyes zeroed in on the gesture. A deep hurt expression crossed his features.
Bella was horrified, she had no idea how to make this right and not hurt his feelings again. She didn't want to reveal the extent of which she found him attractive. 'If there was a male representation of beauty it would be Godric', Bella believed. However, she didn't want to offend or upset him either. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. As she made a strangled noise of pain, she heard Godric erupt into laughter.
She looked up at him in surprise, then it clicked in her brain,
"Your messing with me!" She gaped in surprise. Godric didn't seem like the type. He continued chuckling happily at her expense, "Well, that's just cruel." Bella donned an exaggerated hurt expression but too happy at his amusement to be really upset.
Godric simply snorted, "You are entirely too easy to embarrass, little one. My child must enjoy that" He added absently.
"Your child? You mean Eric? He's your child?" She asked, once again completely surprised. Vampire children. So unusual.
Godric inclined his head sightly in acknowledgement. Bella replied with a simple 'huh'. She was wondering how old Godric was if Eric was a thousand. She was sitting next to an ancient and didn't even know it. He even teased her a little! 'No wonder, he probably thinks your a complete idiot', She thought glumly. If she thought she was out of his league before her chances now sky-rocketed to the sun only to obliterate whatever slim hope she had of being with him. Bella shook her head trying to rid herself of these thoughts. She promised herself no more vampires. She had nothing against them but decided to wait at least another ten years until she let her self get out there again. Only then and she would stick to plain, boring, predictable humans who wouldn't crush her heart and leave her devastated. Or die a spinster. Either way was fine with her.
Bella looked up at Godric again and saw him staring at her. She blushed and wondered, 'has he been looking at me this whole time?', His unwavering attention both pleased and embarrassed her. She felt that strange warmth hum in pleasure, sending a tingling sensitisation through her chest. Being around Godric felt like home. It was a how she felt around Sookie but much stronger and more intense. She shyly looked up at him through her lashes and saw his eyes darken in response. He looked rather tempting the way he was looking at her.
She then noticed how pale Godric looked and not in a healthy way. Bella's brows wrinkled in concern.
"How long have you been here Godric? When was the last time you fed?" She asked worriedly. Now that she noticed it, he looked far too pale, paler than usual for vampires. She scolded herself for being so besotted with his looks and not noticing his sickly complexion.
Godric replied in a calm voice "I require very little blood any more, min söta (my sweet)"
Bella observed him again but this time more clinically. He avoided her question and seemed entirely too pale. She hadn't once worried about her safety however. She felt safe in Godric's presence, almost soothed. She couldn't explain it but it felt like her entire being sighed with relief around him; she felt complete.
Bella was extremely worried for Godric, she didn't want him to starve himself. It is difficult to tell in this other breed of vampire if they were thirsty, their eyes didn't change to black. Bella narrowed her eyes, her face taking on a deep concentrated expression. She stared into his beautiful eyes trying to detect any hint of thirst; he seemed calm enough. Edward always seemed extremely constipated when he was thirsty but Godric looked completely at ease. She was roused out of her examination when she heard Godric's voice.
"Can I help you, little one? You seem to be staring at me most intensely" Godric's voice was pleasant enough but she could detect amusement. She flushed again and cursed herself for doing so. It surely wasn't helping with his thirst.
"Oh, uh no, thanks. I was just checking to see if you were thirsty" She kept her head down, embarrassed to be caught.
"I am very old. I have perfect control and will not hurt you" Godric spoke in a tranquil, soothing tone to help reassure her.
Bella blinked rapidly, surprised, "Oh, I'm not worried about that. Its just... aren't you uncomfortable with me sitting here? I don't want to cause you any pain if your thirsty" She bit her lip and searched Godric's face for any sign of pain.
Surprise fluttered across Godric's features, "You are concerned for my well-being?" He asked in a surprised tone. Bella looked at him, worry still marring her features,
"Well, yeah. Are you sure your alright? I... I don't mind if you want to take some of my blood. It's the least I can do, for using you as my pillow" Bella looked down in embarrassment. She had no clue what possessed her to offer her blood except that she felt an almost uncontrollable urge to protect, comfort and help Godric. It was unexplainable just automatic like how you feel protective of a child or love to a parent. It was just there but felt completely natural; like breathing. Although her head was spinning as to why she would offer her blood to a vampire she just met, she did not regret her decision.
She heard a strange rumbling noise and looked up, it was apparently coming from Godric but she couldn't decipher the strange sound. She looked in his face and he looked very satisfied with a happy gleam in his eye.
"I would be honoured if you gave me your blood, little one" Godric replied his voice dropping a little lower. He seemed to check Bella's face for any hints of doubt. Bella simply smiled hugely back, relieved that she could help him.
"It would be my pleasure Godric" She replied honestly and nudged slightly closer to him unsure of the protocol for feeding was. She had never been fed on before, except when Edward sucked venom out of her blood which she decided not to count.
Godric's eyed darkened slightly and he spoke in a voice deeper voice again, "Come here" He held his hand out and Bella inched over more and took his outstretched hand. She held it for two seconds then became flustered. 'Is he expecting me to do something?'
Bella looked up at him shyly, "Um, I've never done this before... I mean, I've never had anyone take my blood.. I mean, feed on me, you know, with fangs so I'm not really sure-" Bella rambled nervously. Godric simply lifted Bella and placed her gently on his lap, straddling him. Bella blushed at the position but hoped Godric wouldn't notice as her head was down.
Godric tipped her head up to look in his eyes. They were swirling pits of molten lava, containing endless pools of patience. They were such a unique colour, completely mesmerising. Grey, blue, green she watched. Godric began stroking a hand down Bella's black gently and soothingly. She relaxed a little, enjoying the gesture.
"Relax, little one. I will not hurt you" Godric mumbled reassuringly. Bella continued to stare into Godric's eyes until she felt herself relax a little, she sighed as he began stroking her hair. Her eyes fell closed and she smiled a small smile. She simply let her feel Godric's hand petting her. She had never felt anything as relaxing before. It felt like he was giving her a full body massage, rather than a gentle pat.
Bella continued to stare into Godric's eyes until she felt herself relax a little more. She sighed as he began stroking her hair. Her eyes fell closed and she let out a small smile. She simply let her feel Godric's hand petting her. She had never felt anything as relaxing before. It felt like he was giving her a full body massage rather than a gentle pat. Godric's hands started weaving softly through Bella's long brown locks. Over and over he ran his hands over every inch of her hair, pushing it gently off her shoulders and down her back; baring her neck. He used his blunt nails to scrape her scalp lightly on his downward stroke. Bella shivered in pleasure.
His other hand fell to her hip rubbing slight circles, relaxing her further until it felt like her muscles had melted. Godric leant forward and she felt him brush his nose gently against her temple, breathing in as he did so. That strange rumbling noise started again in Godric's chest and vibrated her ever so slightly. Bella's chest filled with warmth and recognition at the sound. She suddenly felt like she was home.
She moaned very quietly at the sound and tilted her neck to the side in an automatic submissive gesture; baring her throat to him.
She heard him groan slightly and trail his face down to her neck with a gentle brush of his nose against her face. He began nuzzling her affectionately and Bella's heart rate started to pick up steadily. He kept taking deep breaths and Bella heard that strange rumble noise get louder. She then realised what it was, Godric was purring. For some reason this pleased Bella immensely and she bared her throat more to Godric's attentions. He placed a gentle kiss to where her neck met her shoulder and started peppering soft kisses along her neck. His lips were cool but achingly soft, two pillows caressing her skin. Godric stopped kissing and darted out a hot, moist tongue. He started licking her jugular gently with long strokes with long strokes of his rough warm tongue. Her heart rate spiked when she felt two sharp tips drag across her throat with his tongue. His fangs.
Heat bubbled in Bella's veins and the bottom half of her body clenched. She couldn't understand her reaction but ignored it, she was going purely on instincts at this point and it felt so good.
Godric kissed her chastely once more before she felt his fangs slowly skin into her skin with a mild ache and tingling sensation. It was like nothing she'd ever felt before.
She felt a slight pressure on her throat then long gentle sucks of her skin as her blood was drawn from her body. For some reason, this felt incredible to Bella. The rhythmic suctions on her throat spread through her entire being and began to echo to the pounding of her heart in her chest and between her legs. She let out a low breathy moan and breathes turned heavy in her chest. The feeling of his fangs imbedded in her throat was safe and satisfying and she slowly wanted him to sink them deeper and suck from her harder. Bella arched her back and pressed herself into Godric more to articulate this wanting. She heard a rumbling noise of appreciation and Godric's hands then held her more firmly around the waist, warm and large. She felt a strange... aching sensation in her lower stomach. It felt good but also painful, she felt like she needed something, anything. More. She needed more. Breathy whimpers started to be released from her lips on almost every breath and the tingling and fire moved from her throat to the tips of her toes and everyplace in between. Her head was light and brain turned blank and sensations took over her body. It felt amazing. 'No wonder people become fangbangers if this is what it feels like', she thought dazedly. She jerked her hips forward automatically, seeking something to sooth her ache. Her hips began rocking a little.
Godric sank finally his fangs deeper and she gasped. 'Oh god, oh god, that feels so good' Bella let out a strangled moan and scrunched her eyes and balled her fists up... needing more... needing something... something that Godric could give to her. It felt like liquid fire was pumping through her veins and she wanted more.