"Sookie?" I whispered frantically, opening doors looking for my trapped cousin.

The dim lighting and massive amounts of silver lying around this fucked-up church are beginning to give me a major headache behind my eyes. I am so done with this anti-vampire shit. When I heard my parents mention Sookie being held against her will, suddenly I became "enlighten with God and that Satan's creatures roamed at night". I knew what I had to do.

"Lizzie, what are you doing here?" Sookie gasped stunned, but thankfully for the keys to the locked cell in my hand.

"Who's this schmuck?" I asked while trying to find the right key that would open the lock.

"He ratted us out,"

"Us?"

"Long story."

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" Gabe hissed slamming open the door.

Shit.

"The fuck I'm doing? I am following Steve's order of taking the fangbanger to the altar to burn with the vamp at sunrise," I retorted boldly, putting on my best pissed off face.

For a mere moment, he bought it before something dawned on him.

"Mr. Newlin, you mean to say." Gabe corrected, lunging towards me, wrapping a suffocating grip around my neck.

Sookie pleaded and begged for him to stop. The lack of air made my vision and mind blur, I tried to pry his grip from me, but it was useless. The black spots grew and fizzled, growing closer to their goal of overtaking me. I stopped struggling and let go, taking the plunge into what would let me see the one person that haunted me. Olivia.

At last, anguish and guilt waned from my soul.

The return of air was overwhelming, the hard metal chain-linked fence stung even more as I was catapulted into it. Struggling to open my eyes, the fuzzy outline of a man appeared in front of me. He reached around me, breaking the lock with his hand as if nothing. Sookie rushed to steady me and asking if I was all right. I nodded weakly. I barely noticed the guy, who ratted Sookie out, quickly escaping through the door without looking back. My focus was mainly on the boy who saved me.

Vampire. His soft hazel eyes bore into mine asking the obvious question. Are you really fine? I didn't respond because I knew what my answer would truly be. You shouldn't have stopped him. I glanced over at Gabe's still body.

He cleared his throat and glanced to the door, expecting someone. The whizzing noise and the appearance of a tall blond vampire took Sookie's attention away from me.

"Godric." The blond man kneeled with a smile gracing his lips.

"My child, you sent humans. Why?" Godric asked.

"I was desperate. They took you." Eric rose to his feet.

"Get these two out. Spill no blood on your way out." Hazel eyes sent a quick glance at me.

"Made a friend, Sookie?" Eric asked.

"She's my cousin who has a ton of explaining to do," Sookie hissed.

"She's with the fellowship?" Eric spat vehemently, taking a step closer to me.

"Eric, back down," Godric quickly intervened.

"I will explain later, but I have to get back. I will cause a distraction then you guys get out together," I stated.

"Absolutely not! You are coming with us," Sookie yelled pissed.

I pinched the brink of my nose taking a few steps away from Sookie. A cool hand touched my arm, sending shocks through my body like a live wire. My mind reeled from Godric's touch, my eyes; however, melted into his hazel ones. His lips taut with unspoken words while his expression spoke a thousand.

"Fine," I replied dryly.

Godric's hand retracted shaking slightly before he spoke, "Let's go."

We made it to the church's double doors, meeting a group of four guards stationed also.

"Let me try something, if it doesn't work than you can knock them out," I pleaded with Godric and Eric. Godric nodded while Eric rolled his eyes.

I turned the corner running at full speed, hunching over letting out a fake gasp before telling them that there has been a breach out by the cabins. That I had escaped from the fangers. The damn suckers bought it, taking off running. After they left, I laughed, a cheesy grin plastered on my face.

"You said I couldn't act," I sneered at Sookie, following them into the church.

She shrugged at me, remembering her words from a few years ago when I was in a school play.

"Jason fucking Stackhouse!" Sookie screamed.

Jason was plowing Sarah Newlin on the altar.

I was laughing hysterically, the two quickly pulled their clothes on. Sarah disappeared faster than a bullet from a gun.

Eric growled in annoyance.

"Sookie? Alyssa? What are you guys doing here?"

Sookie let out a frustrated groan. The doors reopened with a group of forty people surround us with silver and stakes. Surprise, surprise, Steve Newlin at the head out the group. We were surrounded.

"Well look at this, a family reunion. Now Jason, Alyssa, I will give you one chance to make the right choice," Newlin explained wiggling his finger at us.

"No fucking way," Jason boomed.

"Fine, Alyssa are you a traitor to your race now too?" Newlin asked, my parents stepped forward.

"Sweetie, come here," My mother crooned her eyes hard.

"Mom." The tears filled my eyes, my parents would hate me forever.

I walked forward towards Newlin and took my place behind him. He grinned. Sookie and Jason looked devastated. Eric didn't look surprised. Godric looked taken aback.

"Now, what to do with you?" Steve sneered his goons holding weapons and silver stepped forwards eagerly.

I glanced down at the revolver in Newlin's back pocket, where he always kept it. Without hesitance, I pulled it from his pocket and kicked him hard in the back. He fell a few feet forward on his face.

"Stay back!" I threatened, pointing the gun at the crowd behind me. They gasped and moved a good distance from me.

"Why people are more afraid of guns than vampires is beyond me," I muttered bringing the gun down to the man on his knees.

"You won't shoot me. You don't have the guts." Newlin let out a cruel snarl.

Pulling the trigger, bracing my arms a bullet flew into his right leg.

"Whoops," I whispered enjoying his suffering.

"Kill me then, God will give you what you deserve, you treacherous bitch."

"It's not God that scares me but people like you, ignorant, cruel, and all around batshit crazy. I've learned not to argue with crazy. You made this personal when you took Sookie hostage and when you brainwashed my parents after my sister was slaughter by a vampire. That was all you. You're a pathetic sack of shit who teaches people to hate what they don't understand. I hate you, but I hate myself more. I can't forgive myself for some things, but putting a bullet in your head I could live with," I lean down to his ear, "but I believe a more proper punishment would be for you to have your mind wiped by who you despise," He looked at me, eyes pleading at the servility of my words.

"Everyone, go home unless you are willing to die for this man's madness." Godric's authority spread, the crowd dispersed. Eric was soon at work with Newlin's mind, grinning evilly. When I caught sight of my parents I was saddened; my father shook his head at me disgustedly.

"Dad! Mom!" Dropping the gun to the floor, I ran to them.

Mom opened her arms to give me a hug. I received a wicked slap instead. Less than a second later, Godric had her hand twisted behind her. His fangs were down, looking fucking terrifying livid.

"You will not raise a hand to her again. If you do, I will make sure of it that you don't have a hand to raise." Godric pushed her towards the door. Dad wrapped an arm around her before pulling her towards the door.

"It should have been you." My father's eyes full of pure hatred.

I choked on the sob in the back of my throat as they walked out. Sookie wrapped her arms around me, the sobs wracked my body fully. Sookie passed me to Jason when a dark-haired vampire appeared. They hugged, I assume it was her boyfriend, Bill, the she gushed to me about. My throat burned and my eyes were sore, I was out of tears now. Jason loosened his grip, following Sookie and Bill outside. I glanced back to see Eric and Godric talking a few feet behind me. Godric caught my eyes and stopped talking. I quickly turned around and blushed before picking up my pace to catch up with Jason.

Sookie offered to braid my hair after I showered. I declined, parting it to the side and leaving it down. Despite being clean and in new clothes, I was gutted and empty on the inside. The feeling of guilt and hurt radiated through me stopping me from feeling the happiness of Sookie.

We were in Godric's house or 'den' as Sookie called it. I pulled on some of Sookie's jeans and a gray cardigan when Jason came in to tell us that the party was in full swing.

The line of people waiting to talk to Godric was long, Sookie went to find Bill leaving me to stand awkwardly. I felt out of place when Eric appears beside me.

"Alyssa, correct?" His blue eyes amused.

"Just Lyssa actually, Eric, I presume?" My eyes flickered to Godric who was watching us intently.

"Brilliant idea to glamour Newlin instead of killing him. If it was me, I would have ripped out his heart right there and then," He admitted crossing his arms, scanning the room.

"Lucky for him that I am not you then." A slight smile graced his face before it disappeared.

"Ah, there you are. Bill, this is my cousin Alyssa." Sookie introduced us, I declined to shake his hand. He gave off a bad vibe, making my skin crawl. Sookie left to go talk to Isabel. Eric and Bill were death glaring at each other.

"Well, I'm going to go…over there." I pointed to a distant corner of the room. Eric rolled his eyes at me. I scampered away quickly. My eyes flickered to Godric, studying his features, his short brown hair, and calm hazel eyes. He's wearing a long gray shirt and jeans, different from the white cotton from earlier. My insides churn at the thought of him in a good way. My face flushes when he catches me staring. I bump into someone and quickly apologize. Stan. One of the creepy cowboy vampires that Godric introduced us to earlier.

"Hey, darlin. How would you like to be mine?" He purred leaning towards me, his eyes scanning me up and down.

"Um. No, thank you. Excuse me," I replied turning around.

I felt his hand on my shoulder, spinning me around. Stan let out a cry of pain and his hand was gone. Godric had his hand contorted at a nasty angle. His fangs were gleaming and his eyes glowed dangerously. Everyone quieted, shocked seeing Godric angry. Eric and Isabel appeared curious.

"She said no," Godric growled voice low.

Stan looked like he shit his pants. He nodded terrified, Godric lets go giving him a 'don't fuck with me' glare. Stan quickly retreated to another room. Godric took a deep relaxing breath turning to me.

"I apologize fully for Stan's inappropriate behavior, it will never happen again. I hope that you are unharmed." He frowned disdained.

"I think I need some air." I made my way out to the patio with Godric a few steps behind me.

I wrapped my arms around myself tightly. Godric stood inches from me, we looked out at the city lights. My skin itched to step closer to him, the feeling gnawed at my insides for a few silent minutes.

"Godric?" I whispered softly meeting his eyes.

"Yes, Lyssa?" His eyes flickered to mine as he took a step closer to me.

"Why did you save me from Gabe?"

"For most of my time, I was a savage, an uncaring monster, because that's all I thought I was. I barely dealt with all the chaos and destruction I caused until I observed my victims. Eventually, I found my humanity in others. Saving you doesn't excuse me for my sins, but it makes me feel a deal better than the latter."

"Don't tell Sookie or Jason, but before you showed up, for a few seconds, I greeted death willingly. Everything went away, it was the most liberating experience of my life."

A tear streaked down my face, Godric caught it with his fingertip. My eyes closed when his palm gingerly held my cheek. He embraced me gently, it was the safest I had ever felt in my life.

"I imagine death that way for myself; however, I believe you will reach a time when life is more liberating than death," Godric whispered to me, his breath intoxicating.

I believed him.

"Godric." Eric leaned out the sliding door. His eyes widening at the sight of us. Godric made no effort to move, only acknowledged his child with a nod.

"Am I interrupting something?" Eric smirked.

"Are you talking?" I asked raising my eyes at him. Godric smirks at me, eyes playful.

"I guess I have my answer. The line to talk to you is growing again. Sookie is also looking for you, Lyssa."

I groaned and pulled away from Godric.

"She better not gush about her creep of a boyfriend," I muttered underneath my breath to myself.

Godric chuckled. Eric laughed.

With his hand on the small of my back, Godric lead us back into the house. I observed Sookie talking with Isabel. They both smiled at us, Isabel grinning when she saw Godric's hand. Sookie scowled. Godric took his spot back in his chair. I approached Sookie and Isabel.

"So, Lyssa, are you staying here to go back to school in the fall?" Isabel asked kindly.

"I actually already graduated. My parents decided to move when I finished my studies a few months ago," I admitted wincing at the word parents.

"But you are only seventeen," Sookie stated surprised unaware of this.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"You are coming back to Bon Temp with me aren't you?" Sookie narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

A tense moment passed, Isabel changed the subject, talking about the new spring fashions. I excused myself to use the bathroom.

"Um, excuse me, everyone. I have a message," It was silent, the familiar man drew in a shaky breath.

It was the man who gave me a tour of the fellowship's church a few days earlier.

"Taylor, isn't it?" He recognized me instantaneously, taking a step away in the process.

"A message from Alan Summers. "

"Alyssa, get away from him!" Sookie screamed.

Taylor was covered head-to-toe in explosives and silver. I clocked him in the face, not feeling the impact of my hand from the adrenaline. He let out a hiss of pain. I jumped because the whizzing sound that flew by me. Godric snapped his wrist, rendering him from activating the bomb. Someone else did it. Taylor began to tick. Before I could blink, Godric whizzed me away from Taylor.

The blast threw us to the ground.

Screams of pain littered the air, a dead weight was on me making it hard to breathe. My vision twirled, sliding out from beneath Godric, viewing my cataclysmic surroundings. Hot tears rolled down my face, Godric's non-responsive bleeding body riddled with silver.

"Godric!" I cried, shaking him.

Eric appeared on the other side of him. His own clothes torn and covered in blood. His worried expression utterly heartbreaking to watch.

I scrambled around on the floor looking for something sharp. Closing my eyes, I ripped the glass over my wrist. The sharp pain tore a cry from my lips. Placing my bloody wrist in Godric's mouth, he soon bit down. My body squirming at the odd foreign feeling.