Melanie:
My ears were ringing as I opened my eyes. A heavy cloud hung over the room from the explosion. The sound of screams and groaning filled the place. I tried to lift myself up but a heavy weight prevented me.
“Jason! Melanie!” Sookie’s distant voice echoed.
“Sook?” Jason called out. “Where’s Mel?”
I shifted in a panic only for the weight to move off of me. It was Godric. He had used his body to shield mine. I heard the notion of a groan before Eric’s face came into view.
“Melanie.” He ran his fingers through my hair, brushing it aside as he assessed me for damages.
“I covered her with my body.” Godric stood, his body healing quicker than the other’s. “She’s only stunned.”
He looked down at me again, relief written across his face before he pulled me into his arms hugging me tightly against his chest. His body against mine made me feel safe – like we’d be okay despite all the chaos around us.
“Melanie!” Sookie and Jason ran over. Eric let me go, letting Jason help me up while he went to check the bodies.
“What happened?” I leaned into my brother.
Blood and bodies were scattered everywhere. It was amazing we got out unharmed but most were not so lucky.
“Luke.” Jason mumbled. “He was determined to make a name for himself at the fellowship. Guess this is what it took.”
“Ugh, I can’t believe you went there! What were you thinking?” Sookie shook her head in disgust.
“Everyone listen up.” Godric called from the center of the room. “They may come back. Go to the Hotel Camilla. They’ve been alerted, security is in place.”
Everyone stood to leave, those who had healed, helping the others. Bill came back to us, taking Sookie’s hand.
“Let’s go.” He ordered, leading the way.
“You guys go on. I’ll be right there.”
Jason nodded reluctantly and joined Sookie and Bill. I stood by as the room cleared out, watching the sheer disappointment in Godric’s face as he looked over the damage. This isn’t what he wanted. What he fought for. Eric stepped forward as well, taking note in his maker’s hurt look. He hoped to see a sliver of regret for letting those human’s live but he didn’t.
We arrived back at the hotel where everyone got back to their rooms. Eric walked me to mine but after the night we’d had, he needed to be with his maker. It was fine with me. After a hot soak, all I wanted to do was forget Dallas all together.
“Mel, you awake?” Sookie knocked on the door. “I’m going to Jason’s room if you want to come.”
“I’ll be right there Sook.”
I pulled on a tank top and cotton shorts before brushing my hair and letting it down to air dry. I could see little cuts and marks down my body from random shrapnel but I was thankful that was the extent of it.
Wandering down the hall, I opened Jason’s door and crawled into bed, sitting next to him and Sook. The comfort reminded me of when mama used to tuck us in at night only for us to wake back up to play just like this. We refused to be apart. It was a shame how much we’d grown and, in a way, separated since then.
“How could you join them?” I finally asked Jason.
He shrugged his shoulders. “They made me feel like I was worth something.”
“You were a star in Bon Temps.” Sookie shook her head. “I was the throw away. Everyone always thought you hung the moon.”
“No. That ain’t true. They liked my athletics, and my good looks, my sex abilities, but – they don’t like me for me. Steve and Sarah. They acted like they did, before they tried to kill me.” He stared blankly at the pillow as he relived that week. “They stopped my mind from going around and around, thinking about other stuff.”
“Didn’t you think for one moment what Gran would say?” Sookie asked him.
“Don’t.” He turned around, letting his feet hang off the bed. “Don’t talk about Gran. I can’t.”
“Why?” I looked at him, rubbing his back gently.
“Because I don’t- I don’t want to feel anything.”
“But we have to talk about her.”I turned his face towards us. “We can’t stop remembering her or loving her because it hurts to much. She’d never stop loving us, would she?”
“No” he whispered softly.
“We’ll keep her alive in our hearts.” Sookie added. “And our prayers. And that’s the way it’s gotta be.”
“And mama and daddy?” He turned back around.
“That’s right.” She nodded, taking his hand. “Mama and daddy and gran.”
His eyes watered as he looked between us. “Our whole family is gone. Everybody who counts. We’re all alone. We’re all that’s left.”
“So we have to grow up.” I said. “We gotta stick together and we gotta be good to each other. Or we’re letting them all down.”
“I love you.” He looked at the both of us, pulling us against him in a hug.
OOO
“Do you have any fucking idea the PR mess you’ve made?” The official looking blonde woman cursed. “And who fucking has to clean that shit up? Me! Not you. Me! I should drain every one of you bastards.”
Sitting back next to Sookie, I watched as everyone held their tongues. She must of been important if she had the ability to speak to them that way. The two armed men behind her were there to make sure she could. I felt Eric’s eyes burning into me. He had no interest her lecture or her empty threats. He was just relieved his maker was safe. Who knew the type of shit they discussed last night.
“Stan went after the church on his own.” Eric defended. “None of us knew anything about it.”
“Oh really? Because everyone who met Stan within the last 300 years knew he had a kink about slaughtering humans. But you, his nest mates, his sheriff – had no clue.”
“And how were we supposed to know that this time he meant it?” Isabelle spoke out.
“Not my problem. Yours.” The blonde woman looked at Godric.
“Don’t talk to him that way.” Eric’s monotone threat making her stare daggers at him.
“Don’t talk to me that way.” She corrected.”Let’s get to the point. How did they abduct you?”
“They would’ve taken one of us sooner or later. I offered myself.” He answered calmly.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“They wanted you to meet the sun and you were willing?” She asked, amazed by what she was hearing.
“What do you think?”
“I think you’re out of your mind.” She shook her head. “And then I hear about a traitor.”
“Irrelevant.” Godric stopped her. “Only a rumor. I take full responsibility.”
She scoffed. “Oh I bet you will.”
“You cold bitch.” I muttered.
“Melanie!” Bill scolded quietly.
“Listen.” She looked my way. “This is a national vampire disaster and nobody at the top has sympathy for any of you.” She looked at Godric again. “Sheriff. You fucked up. You’re fired.”
“I agree. Of course. Isabelle should take over. She had no part in my disgrace.”
“Godric.” Isabelle looked shocked. “Fight back!”
“What are you saying!” Eric lashed out. “She’s a bureaucrat, you don’t have to take shit from her! You wanna lose your area?”
“Hey, I’m on TV.” Nan smiled. “Try me.”
“It’s my fault.” Isabelle reasoned. “I should have contained Stan the moment Godric went missing.”
“Isabelle.” Godric interrupted. “I remove myself from all positions of authority.”
Eric looked like he’d been shot in the chest. His eyes widened hearing those words come from Godric who had worked so hard to get to where he was. I placed a hand on his thigh, giving it a friendly squeeze to distract him from thought but it was of no use.
“Works for me.” Nan nodded.
Godric didn’t deserve to be treated this way. Not after everything he had done. He had tried for peace. For an understanding between vampires and humans. He wasn’t going to be treated like shit. I sat up straight but Bill pulled my arm.
“No no no” He whispered.
I pulled away from him, looking straight at her. “Ms. Flanagan, Godric went in that church hoping to accomplish everything your ‘Authority’ had been striving for since y’all came out of the coffins. He went in with the intention of creating peace and letting them see that you are not all monsters. He saved my sister from getting raped and probably killed. He also rescued countless humans and vampires too when war almost broke out.”
“If you think this is a PR nightmare now, it could’ve been a hundred times worse. You should be thanking him.” Sookie added.
“For getting kidnapped? For attracting a suicide bomber? For piss-poor judgement? I think not.”
I stood abruptly,“Then thank him for letting you live after being a disrespectful cunt.”
The two guards behind her, pointed their guns at my chest and Eric jolted up to kill them, only to be stopped by everyone else. Bill and Isabelle held him back while he stared down at Nan, the promise of true death lying behind them.
“Eric.” Godric called, calming the tall viking back down to his seat.
Nan looked at me with a raised eyebrow, her lips curved into an amused smirk, as we all sat back down.
“So tell me about the bombing.” She started again.
Eric:
Nan and her men cleared the room, calling Godric to her suite to sign off his rights to his position. I so badly wanted wanted to rip her head off but Godric hadn’t cared. He put up no fight. Merely accepted her treating him in that way. This wasn’t the Godric I knew. This was only a shadow.
He stood to leave and I stopped him. “No”
“Look into my heart.” He asked.
“Just listen to me.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“There is.” I tried.
Godric sighed, looking at me deeper than he’d ever done before. “On the roof.” He said before walking past me out of the room.
Bill tapped my shoulder as my head reeled from what he could have meant.
“We have a score to settle.” He fumed.
“Not now.” I looked down at him.
“Yes now.” His fist flew full speed at me, splitting my lip. “Have I made my point?”
I knew I could’ve kicked his ass. It didn’t take much to push me these days but I couldn’t stop my mind from wondering why he’d given up like that.
Barely looking at Bill, I shrugged. “It’s over. She’s gone. Now get out of the way.”
Just like he had said, he’d been on the roof overlooking the city. With dawn coming soon, reality had set in. Godric had wanted to die. He was going to meet the sun with or without the help of the fellowship. I felt a pain in my chest where my heart used to beat.
“2000 years is enough.” He affirmed.
“I can’t accept that.” I argued. “It’s insanity!”
“Our existence is insanity.” He turned to me. “We don’t belong here.”
“But we are here!”
“It’s not right. We’re not right.”
“You taught me there is no right and wrong only survival or death.” I pointed out.
“I told a lie as it turns out.”
“I will keep you alive by force!” I yelled, unable to accept it.
“Even if you could, why would you be so cruel?”
He looked at me then over my shoulder and I turned to see Melanie, standing by the stairs.
Looking back at him, I begged. “Godric, don’t do it.”
“There are centuries of faith and love between us. Those won’t go away.” He offered.
I lowered my head. Unable to stop the tears from falling as I sobbed, falling to my knees against him. “Please, please.” I whispered but to no avail. “Please Godric.”
“You will be okay, Eric.” He placed a hand over my head. “My time has come but you have much more to live for. That girl behind you, with the spirit of a warrior, trust in her. I see how you look at her. Learn to love and be loved, my child, and you will not end up like me.”
“I won’t let you die alone.” I shook my head.
“Yes you will.” He brushed my hair back. “As your maker, I command you.”
At his command, I stood backing away slowly to the stairs. Melanie took my hand, her free hand on my cheek as she wiped a bloody tear. “I’ll stay with him.” She whispered. “As long as it takes.”
I watched as she walked over to him before I headed back down. What life was this that my maker couldn’t take being here a second longer. What made the rest of us stay? I headed back to my room, staring at the clock knowing that in the next few minutes, I would no longer have a maker. My companion for the last millennium would no longer exist.
Soft knocking on my door caused me to break down again. I knew that was Melanie telling me the deed was done. I opened it and moved aside to let her in as I wiped the tears from my face. She walked to the couch, sitting patiently while I regained my composure.
“He died happy, Eric.”
“Don’t.” I shook my head.
She stood, placing her hand on my bare back. “Two thousand years is a long time to be alive. He chose to die how he wanted. Everyone has a right to choose.”
“What about me?” I shouted as I faced her, causing her to jump slightly. “What am I supposed to do without him?”
“Look out for yourself like you have been.” She lifted her shoulders into a shrug. “But you won’t have to go through this alone.”
I stood in front of her, my hands cupping her face as they wiped the dry trail of tears from her cheeks. She had felt for him too. If there was one person who could have been there for him, I’m glad it was her. She placed her hand on the back of my neck, pulling my head down until our lips met in a kiss and the whole world fell away. It was slow and comforting in a way words would never be.
My hand rested below her ear, my thumb caressing her cheek as our breaths mingled. Her tongue gently brushing mine as she ran her fingers down my spine, pulling me closer against her until there was no space left between us. I could feel her heart beating strong enough for the both of us. She was scared, I could feel it, but her kisses grew more hungry, more full of need as her fingers worked on the button of my pants, pushing them off of me.
My hands slide down her body, pulling her tank top up over her head in one quick swoop. She reached back, unhooking her bra before letting it fall down her arms. Her breasts were beautiful, in perfect proportion to her toned body. I slide my hands around her waist, pushing her shorts off of her as I lifted her up and laid her back on the bed climbing over to settle between her legs.
Lowering my head, I kissed her neck, the touch of my lips causing a shallow moan to release from her mouth. The smell of her blood pumping through her veins was intoxicating. My fangs dropped and I had to pull away. She was the one person I could see myself losing control over. She gasped when she looked up at me, but instead of running, just reached over and touched them before moving her hair away from her neck.
“I want you.” She whispered, looking up at me. “I want you for all that you are.”
“Melanie – I can’t. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Than make it feel good.” She breathed, closing her eyes as she leaned her head back.
She’d never been with vampire before nor had she been bitten. She’d never expressed the interest of wanting to yet here she was offering herself to me, totally and completely. I kissed her lips again, savoring in her sweetness before brushing my lips down to her neck. I hesitated but she smelled too good not to take a bite of.
As my fangs sunk in, I guided myself inside her hot core inch by inch until she was filled to the hilt. Her tight center adjusting to me while I fed. She moaned at the different sensations taking place in her body. Her blood tasted just how she smelled – like sunshine and sugar. It was the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted. Her nails dug into my back as she started moving her hips under mine. I lifted one of her legs over my waist as I joined in her motion, rocking myself in and out of her.
It was hard to stop feeding from her but I had to pull my fangs out. Her blood was addicting, maybe more so than a vampire’s, but her heartbeat had started to slow and that was no good. As I pushed deeper inside of her, I pricked my finger and used my blood to heal her puncture wounds. She smiled up at me, with heavy glazed eyes before flipping us over so that she was on top. Her small figure bounced on my aching member, stroking and milking me while she held onto the headboard for support. While I met her rhythm thrust for thrust, my hands explored her body as it glistened so beautifully in sweat. In my thousand years, I hadn’t seen anything as fascinating.
Her blonde hair glowing almost halo-like under the gleam of the dim lights as her body arched to take me in fully. Her breathing becoming more labored as her moans echoed across the room. I quickened my pace underneath her, bringing her closer and closer to orgasm until it finally hit her. Wave after wave made her tighten around my swollen member until I couldn’t control myself any further and joined her.
She slowly slid off of me before laying on her back. We both stared up at the ceiling as we caught our breaths. I turned on my side, tucking my arm under my pillow, draping my other arm around her waist.
“You sure know how to cheer someone up.” I smiled.
“Well, I do the best with what I’m given.” She laughed, turning on her side to face me, her fingertips tracing the lines of my abs.
“But thank you.” I watched her fingers. “For being with him when I couldn’t.”
“I wouldn’t have sat back and watched you burn even if you’d tried.” She shrugged, the movement causing her breast to jiggle.
“Why? After everything I’ve done with you, your sister, your friends? Why be this good to me?”
She lowered her gaze as she thought for a moment. “Because I know you’re good. I know this cold hearted thing is an act – or maybe it isn’t – maybe you’ve just become so tired of caring over the years that you would rather just not – but I know you still do. I know you care about people and doing the right thing. Otherwise, you would’ve killed Newlin when you had him in your hands. There’s something in you that still fights for your humanity, and that’s why you deserve someone good to you.”