Rosalyn seated herself in a leafy corner of the moon garden. She was early for her interview with Niobe by a quarter hour, and growing more nervous by the minute. Godric's task was simple enough: offer the exceptional woman employment. Convincing Niobe that the offer was appealing - all while not eating her alive - was a daunting prospect. Especially knowing Godric's disappointment.

The neutral, open-air setting seemed like a far safer option for the conversation than some private room in the vast palace. Nearby an artificial pond burbled, filling the night with the floral scent of exotic water lilies. The ocean beat its surf on the sand in the distance, though whether the humans could hear it, she was not sure.

Niobe greeted her with a dignified wave and a gracious smile and the flavor of the air changed instantly. An expensive, resinous incense. Fruit ripened to the point of bursting. Fermenting grain that Rosalyn realized now must be the injera bread of her homelands.

Niobe tucked her billowing saffron colored dress to the side and swept the shawl she wore around her shoulders in a single elegant motion. She wore a stack of gold bangles that rang when she moved. White blossoms studded the shrubs all around them and framed her figure like a work of art. For one terrifying moment, Rosalyn thought she was going to lunge across the wrought iron table and devour the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

Niobe, blessedly, interrupted the thought before catastrophe struck. "Lord Godric is extremely charming. The old ones are not always so."

"He must like you." More like he wanted something.

"How is he normally?"

"Indifferent." Unpredictable. Or worse.

"I'm flattered then. Tell me about yourself? You are very newly turned."

Rosalyn did her best to share her experience as a new vampiress. She spoke of her background, leaving off the sob story parts of her human life that had made her shove her nose into books and writing instead of some other self-destructive habit that most people who lose parents so young turn to.

Niobe pressed her gently for information about her temperament, about how she handled challenges, about her particular interests now that she was undead. When she inquired about the family's living arrangements, however, Rosalyn stumbled. "The household is…in transition," she said. It wasn't untrue. It just happened to avoid highlighting the total chaos of the last few months, and the fact that she and Godric were now basically homeless and barely employed and maybe about to all die in battle. "There's a lot to figure out," she confessed. "Maybe that's the draw of the position for you? It's an opportunity to shape the lifestyle and public image of some of the oldest and highest profile vampires in North America."

"Forgive my rudeness, my lady. I'm unclear on how a cheap nightclub in an unimpressive city in one of the poorest states in the US is 'high profile'."

Rosalyn couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Totally valid. Trust me, Niobe, I've struggled to see the allure too. Shreveport? Fangtasia? I still don't like it - on the surface. I'll be damned when this is over if I spend my nights stocking Eric's liquor storeroom and swinging on a hooker pole. That's not the future for any of us. There's more to it."

Niobe smirked. "There is always more to it with vampires."

Rosalyn had to perform some serious verbal acrobatics to dance around the command that kept her silent about Godric and Eric's plans for America, and the reality of Godric's secret political control of the continent. "What I can tell you is what is publicly known. Godric has refused every kingship he has ever been offered. He recently resigned his Sheriff's position in Dallas. Eric is Sheriff of Area Five, of course."

"He is the oldest Sheriff in Louisiana, no?" She gave a coy smile. "I did ask Lord Sebek to do a little homework for me."

"Yes. And the new Louisiana regent is Godric's former Second in Command, Isabelle Beaumont, who has worked for him for ages and is herself the daughter of the Spanish King. Louisiana as a human state may be poor, but the vampires that run it are not. Maybe you'd prefer court life in New Orleans with Isabelle? You can have that if that's what you prefer."

Niobe let out a beautiful laugh of her own. "So your Godric refuses a title when he could have any one that he wants, he supports his woman friend running the American vampire capitol when he could easily claim it for himself, and he raises his newborn to be consort of his bloodline over his thousand year old Viking prince?"

Rosalyn considered whether she should explain that her role in the clan was more than a consort. She decided to keep that one to herself. "That's the gist of it."

"Your family controls all of Louisiana," Niobe deduced, daring Rosalyn to contradict her.

"Ah, I'd say our influence extends a bit farther than that." The panicky feeling of Godric's command rumbled up through Rosalyn's skin. She was running dangerously close to disobeying it.

"How far?"

"Let's just say plenty enough and leave it at that. I'm offering you the New World. Come be one of its chief courtesans and help us run it as it should be."

The woman clapped in delight, her bangles jingling like bells. "I had not ever imagined working for a woman, Lady Rosalyn. How does Sheriff Northman accept your authority?"

"Believe it or not, I think he loves it. He's…we're…" Rosalyn wasn't sure of the answer. She went with something safer. "His own progeny and second in command is a woman too. You'll have met Pamela here."

Niobe had just one final concern. "What do you expect my range of duties to be? All my talents would be at your disposal. Which of them interest you most?" She listed them off: her blood, her body, her artistic abilities, her musical aptitudes, her organizational skills, her business training, several unexpected technical certifications…

Rosalyn closed her eyes and stopped breathing. Her brain had seized up at the mention of blood. She knew there was more that she should say. Godric's preference for handmade clothing and custom toiletries. Eric's very particular design aesthetics and near OCD need for order. A library of books and archival documents and artifacts abandoned in Dallas that desperately needed preservation. But as it was, she had a death-grip on the iron lawn furniture. Niobe saw the trouble. "You understand, I won't single-handedly be able to sustain the appetites of a newborn."

Rosalyn nodded rapidly, a hand over her mouth. "I realize. I drink bagged. I have - I had - a donor."

"It is customary to have an exclusive claim on one's courtesan. We may agree to exceptions at times. But I am not a library book for your family and friends to borrow for weeks at a time."

"I understand. God knows we'll have to lay down the law with Eric."

Niobe hummed. "I have to ask. You're a baby. You're surrounded by ancients. How will you enforce that claim?

Rosalyn leaned forward. "You've seen the news about Athens?"

"The city is still smoldering as I understand it. Some sort of gas leak explosion?"

"That was Godric. Someone crossed us. And he's just getting warmed-up. So there's your answer. Everyone obeys him. He will burn the world to the ground if harm comes our way. If you're with us, that protection extends to you."

She considered it. "He sounds unstable."

"Oh no, Niobe. Unstable is what your Senusret friends and our family are trying to stop. Godric is the most methodical, calm, restrained person I've ever known. He has extraordinary power. But he follows higher principles. And I give the word as to whether and how he uses them."

"Do I get any say?" Niobe asked.

"Of course!"

"I'm not opposed to a little fun with these beauties in your House." She smiled slightly, and Rosalyn wondered whom in particular she had in mind. "I just don't want to become a nightly chew toy when I have other real responsibilities."

"Consent is something we take deadly serious in my family - please ask Godric to explain too. You give your consent. That is always yours to give or not. And if you want something, just ask. If it is in my power and in the best interest of the family, we will make it happen. The House of Godric is unmatched in our loyalty and respect for others. We only want to make the world a better place for all creatures."

The woman rose, twined her fingers in Rosalyn's and pulled her off her chair. "My Lady, it would be an honor to work with you."

She was dangerously close, chiffon skirt and hair blowing around Rosalyn's body. "Would you consider a trial period?"

Niobe's expression clouded in offense. "You doubt my qualifications?"

"No! The exact opposite. I'm worried you'll want out as soon as you've started."

The courtesan stepped closer and ran a finger along the collar of Rosalyn's dress. Rosalyn lips parted as she scented her. "Tell me why you really want this job," she said, the glamour pouring heavily off of her.

"Luxury. Elegance. Magic." Niobe smiled.

"Adventure?"

"Oh yes," she shivered.

"Me?" Rosalyn asked, genuinely doubtful.

Niobe leaned against her neck and whispered into her artery. Her hand slipped down to her inner thigh. "Please."

Rosalyn released her from her influence. "I'm not going to drink from you tonight. You'll need your strength for your first task. What do you know about the Orthodox Church?"

Niobe lit up. "The Church? Did the Vizier not explain? I'm Ethiopian, my lady. I grew up in the orthodoxy."

Rosalyn kissed her on the mouth, and finding her taste to be more exquisite than she had dreamed, kissed harder. "You're perfect. Welcome to the family."

~OOO~

Sebek arranged a red eye flight for Niobe out of Cyprus to Istanbul. By early morning she would be on a tour bus with a pilgrimage group visiting a series of religious sites. At Edirne, she would slip out from a tour of an Ottoman mosque and take a private car waiting for her to go further north. By late afternoon, provided there weren't any snags - bad roads, flat tires - Niobe would have pretended to pay her respects at the small church suspected to be part of Roman's lair and collected enough reconnaissance data for the family to make a battle plan. Eric was ready to strike, intel be damned. Sebek counseled caution, while Godric remained oddly quiet. It was growing very late, and it had been an extremely taxing night for everyone.

Rosalyn was startled to find her maker and Arun on a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor of their suite. "You didn't drink from Niobe," Godric said curiously.

She joined the two shirtless men in pajama pants. "Are we having a slumber party?"

Godric shrugged. "It's my turn for guard duty. Just in case this fool decides to make a run for it."

"No chains?"

Arun laughed. "We thought you might not appreciate that much silver in your room."

"Bit rude not to offer him the couch at least, Godric," Rosalyn said. "Better yet, he can have the bed. I'm not sleeping in here with you two."

"We have a lot to talk about, the three of us."

"Shoot. You've got less than an hour before I'm dead asleep - in Eric's room."

Godric grimaced in displeasure. "You know he's slow to wake. It's safer with me."

"Well if you think these people are going to slaughter us in our beds while we sleep then we probably shouldn't be allying with them to go into war." Godric's expression remained perfectly still. Unhappy.

Arun gave her a gentle look. "Your maker told me about your bonding sickness episode. I am very sorry that happened to you."

"Eric saved my life."

"We are trying to strategize how to avoid it again if we attack tomorrow," Godric said. "We need every capable warrior, and there is no ally to leave you with close by."

"So get me a hotel room?"

Godric pressed his fingers in his eyes, either for patience to explain or to suppress his temper. "This village is in the middle of nowhere. You think the locals won't hesitate to put a stake through your heart when an obvious vampiress walks into their inn, asks for one room please, and doesn't eat a bite of her dinner? Old World superstitions have not changed."

"Iset could stay here with me."

Godric shook his head. "Too far from northern Turkey, and she's returning to her kingdom immediately besides."

"Then I'll have to come with you."

Arun agreed. "This is the problem, my lady. We're not sure this is a battle that can be won in a single night. You cannot wait outside in the bare hills."

"And I haven't taught you to nest underground safely," Godric added. "We don't know what creatures guard this place. Weres would scent you in the soil and kill you in the daytime if they patrol the area. They likely do."

"Welp." She slapped her knees. "Guess I'm polishing my swords."

Godric visibly deflated. "I am sorry I haven't trained you enough. I regret that we're faced with this choice. I am too used to fighting with Eric at my side - I cannot do without him. We probably lost our chance with Roman at the wedding because I chose to have him stay with you. I made a mistake. Sebek is strong, but his skills are antiquated. He simply isn't good enough."

She looked at Arun. She thought of the bloodbath he had left in Thea's courtyard. "You want me to go with him."

Arun inclined his head. "I promised you my sword, Great Devapatnl. I will defend you with my life."

Rosalyn growled in total exasperation. "If I had a dollar every time a Tarquinii made me an oath and broke it…"

"It is the only way on this short notice!" Godric said, alarming them with the sudden supernatural shrillness in his voice. "Arun will work rear guard with you protected between himself and Eric, and I'll take the lead. Sebek, Emir, and Pamela will be our other team running critical logistics. We can get in these caves, and hopefully finish this. I cannot imagine Roman could support very many vampires in such an isolated, exposed area."

"That's all you've got?! Are you freaking serious? Let's just drop a missile on the place and see if anything crawls out! Surely you've got a satellite or a fighter jet you can borrow. What about the Senusret security guards? Do they have a militia or some mercenaries we can rent?"

Godric began laughing in wild embarrassment and Arun peeled over in a fit.

"What? Why is that so funny? Modern solutions for Bronze Age problems boys! What the hell! If anybody ever lectures me about adapting to the times and evolving as a vampire again, I may just stab them in the throat. Fucking bomb them! They bombed us!"

Arun grinned. "Such American spirit."

"Love, Sookie could be in there by the time we get in. We cannot, under any circumstance, start a war with the Fae. Besides, I don't actually keep an arsenal of WMDs -"

"He is the weapon of mass destruction," Arun jested.

Godric was not amused. "If we blow the place up, we won't know who or if we've killed the right people. It's sloppy and unwise."

"You know what? Your plan sucks. Keep working." Rosalyn stood before she could said anything more she might regret. She pulled a handkerchief from her bra and threw it at Arun. "For the bleeds. You've got your work cut out for you today. I'll see you tomorrow evening."

~OOO~

"Pam, no, not now," Eric said when he heard his bedroom door open. He had his back turned with a phone to his ear, in the middle of business, scribbling something on a notepad. He didn't realize that Rosalyn had barged straight into his room. When he saw her, he cut the call short. "Get it done. Immediately," he told his associate. "Got to go." He threw the phone down.

"Get this dress off me and give me your shirt."

Eric stood as still as a statue. Only his pupils flooded black. "Rosalyn," he warned her.

"I hate Sheriff Northman."

He hesitated, then drew off the black tank he had changed into and handed it to her. "Maybe you've got the wrong room."

"Sweatpants too, asshole. I've got twenty minutes at best before the sun claims me." He stripped down to his silk boxers. She drew closer. "Dress. Off. However you want."

Eric drew his hands down Rosalyn's cheeks, her neck, across her bosom. Then grabbed the fine material at the shoulders and shredded it from her body in a single rip. Rosalyn stepped out of the remains of Pamela's vintage Hervé Leger and kicked it aside. She crawled under the covers of his bed and curled a finger at him to join her.

"Ros, Frigga be praised, but what the actual fuck are you up to?" Hesitantly, he slid in beside her. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. She had thrown her strapless bra to the ground, and chest to chest, the feel of their blood tie was exquisite. "I will not have you for the first time in this whore house full of foreigners. You know that."

"You have a lot of rules for someone who doesn't follow a single one of them." He huffed a laugh and pulled her closer. "I'm not looking for sex, you idiot. I want my blood mate. I want Eiríkr Goðrikson. Not your fake Sheriff persona."

His voice softened. "Tell me. I'm here."

"Just you. Keep me safe while I sleep."

"Always."

"Tell me a bedtime story. Not a fairytale. Something true."

He thought for a moment. "You were the most confusing human I've ever met. And I've known quite a few."

"Why did you want to blood bond with me then?"

Eric hummed in consternation. "I told you to ask on your hundredth birthday."

"We might die tomorrow, Eric."

He kissed her mouth softly, then more sensually, then as a desperate heat grew between them he fed her his blood. "Because I wanted you."

"What, to control me? Find me?"

"Gods no," he laughed quietly. "To understand you. To feel myself inside you even if you wouldn't have me. To give you the protection I promised you. To thank you for saving my maker. There's more, and that I will make you wait for."

Rosalyn bit her tongue and kissed him roughly, their blood kiss turning messy in their need. "I didn't understand you either. I still don't."

"We have all the time in the world, lover." He frowned. "Sleep now, blood wife. I'll guard your dreams."

~OOO~

Godric shot out of bed the moment his email pinged. Niobe had sent her recordings. The sun had not yet set. Arun was curled asleep on the floor of the suite, and he paused to glory for silent moments over his undisturbed beauty, the miracle of his life, the scent of Tarquin mingled in the man's own distinct blood. He gave into the urge and knelt beside him, pressed his face against his, stroked his hair, and breathed him in. "Thank the gods you returned to me," he whispered. Then he showered and got to work.

Godric played the video focusing on several sections of the Church interior, rewinding and replaying it repeatedly in slow motion, searching for any signs of a hidden entrance. Sebek stood over him, a hand on his shoulder. "There," Godric said, pointing to a poorly sealed burial stone on the floor near the altar.

"Possibly. Show me the south transept again?" They examined a similar part of the floor that might conceal a door. It looked promising.

"Why not under the altar itself?" Iset asked.

"Gods bless her," Sebek said, "somehow Niobe managed to get footage under there when no one was looking. Nothing."

"The burial at the front is too suspicious," Iset said. "Every time it's opened it would leave crumbled stone all over the floor. The choir boys would be singing tales of ghosts far and wide. Did Niobe check with the priests whether there are any odd rumors about the building?"

"Of course," Sebek said, sounding offended that his former courtesan would be anything less than completely thorough."

"It's probably in the transept, but there's simply no way to be certain without seeing it in person," Godric said. "We'll have to try our luck with the old tomb entrance."

Sebek croaked in agreement. "It may be less guarded if it's not regularly used."

"The tomb face is completely exposed to the southern hills." Arun had risen for the evening and quickly picked up on the debate. "We'll fake a breakdown in the parking lot and move fast."

They discussed the possibilities as Iset's entourage gathered in the entrance hall. Dusk had settled and they were readying to depart back to Egypt. Iset pulled an amulet from some secret place inside her military clothing and placed it into Sebek's palm. She whispered an invocation, lips pressed to the top of his head. "You are expected home soon, dear one." She turned to Godric. "Call your wife."

When Rosalyn rushed into the foyer, she was barely awake, barefoot, and dressed only in one of Pamela's pink robes. Pamela and Eric joined them soon after, attired for the night but looking nervous. Rosalyn curtsied before Iset, and the Princess took her by the shoulders. "Goddess Nut, Oh night shining One who is the star-lit sky, our blessed cloak of darkness, we honor your beauty at daybreak, we cherish your might at twilight. Oh Goddess Nut of shade and shadow, I call on you to protect our sister Senusret as she goes forth into battle. May she ride beside you in the Boat of a Million Years to victory." Iset finished her blessing with a pair of kisses on Rosalyn's cheeks, then shocked her with a kiss to her mouth with the faintest trace of her ancient blood. Its power was so terrifying Godric had to quickly grab her to keep her upright.

Iset nodded at him. "Whatever dark gods watch over you are not mine. May they strengthen your hand as you bring destruction to Roman and all that serve him."

Godric bowed. "As you command, your Royal Highness."

The troop of armed women left then. Iset turned to Rosalyn for one final glance before loading into the waiting van. "When you return, Egypt will begin preparations for your welcome. Her majesty is impatient to know you."

The van pulled out of the cul de sac and down the driveway. Rosalyn looked up at Godric. "That sounded more like a threat than an invitation."

Godric's eye twitched. "It was."

A/N: Thoughts? Theories? I always love to hear from you! Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! ~M