"I can't believe this child! What in goddess name was she thinking?"

"She has an awful habit of not listening to her instructions." Hector sounded irritated. "I spoke to Celeste after this fiasco, and she instructed her to wait for assistance from you and your Coven."

"Young Castors these days are too inexperienced and arrogate and insufficiently trained to be sent out on their own." The voice continued to gripe. "What, in goddess's name, were you thinking, Celeste? Sending her out on her own?! She not prepared for this kind of responsibility! I did all that I could to help her, but I don't see any lasting damage despite the attachment."

"Thank you, Moonlight." I overheard my mom's voice in a speaker.

"I cannot express my gratitude enough."

"You are very welcome, Celeste." The woman continued. "Honestly, what your daughter did was nothing short of astonishing. With that curse, that disgusting curse," the elderly woman shook her head," the power alone required to remove it would require at least three to four highly trained and well-controlled witches. The energy she uses to control the spirit realm is nothing short of remarkable."

"Her powers are coming into their own, and I'm searching for the correct teacher. It's difficult because there are so few of her type of witch. I wanted her to wait, but unfortunately, she is too much like her father."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

I woke up in my hotel room with no knowledge of getting again, but this time I didn't have on a shirt or pants. I grabbed the sheet that rested around my waist, and I pulled it under my arms to hide my chest from the eyes in the room. I felt a little regretful to see blood smeared all over the crisp white sheet. I was in a lot of trouble if the priestess used blood magic to revive me.

"Georgiana Gertrude Raine!" I looked down at the computer screen my mother was on, "I told you to wait. I explicitly told you to wait, didn't I?"

"Yes, ma'am." I looked down at my hands, ashamed that my actions caused my mom to worry.

"And you went ahead and did it anyway?!" She scolded me through the computer screen. "I'm disappointed, Georgiana! You do realize the amount of danger you placed your self, don't you? How close you came to encountering a demon?"

"Lizzy was there," I whispered, hoping that she didn't hear me.

"Yes! Because an 8-year-old ghost can protect you from demonic powers?! We will be discussing this in-depth when you arrive home, young lady." She looked upset still. "Hector, I will be speaking to you later this evening."

My irate mom disconnected the call, and the screen went blank. I looked up to see Hector, Godric, Sasquatch, and Moonlight. Moonlight had long white hair that was wrapped in a very tight bun at the back of her head and dressed in a pantsuit. She packed her items back in her bag, but she stopped turning to look at me. The look she gave me reminded me of High Priestess Oplina when she would scold me for disrupting council meetings.

"You're lucky, girl." She crossed her arms and gave me the staredown. "You almost died, but you have no lasting physical damage. Regrettably, there is a slight problem with your soul. While healing, Death, part of his soul attached to yours. Instead of transferring him his little piece back, you gave him a part of yourself. Next time, listen to your mother. She sits on the High Council for a reason. I suggest you follow the advice of your elders because they are considered knowledgeable. The spell you did was not only dangerous, but it can kill a witch. I'm all done here, Hector. Please show me out."

I watched as they left the room. I looked over at the Sheriff, and he did not look too please with me either.

"Eric." He stated.

Sasquatch vacated the bedroom, and there was no one but Godric and me.

"You knowingly lied to me, enchantress." Godric slowly walked over to the bed. "You neglected to inform me you had instructions to wait for help."

"I knew I could do it alone," I muttered. "In case it escaped your noticed, I healed you just fine without the help of anyone."

"At substantial risk to yourself." He stopped at the edge of the bed. "Your mother is furious with us, you most of all.

"I know." I looked at him. "I saved you. I knew that I could handle it alone. I didn't need help from other witches. If you didn't panic, I wouldn't have given so much of my energy to calm you down."

"So it's my fault that you nearly killed yourself?" He raised an eyebrow. "Was it me who disregarded instructions and proceeded with the spell? Despite being told help was necessary? You know, child, this youthful arrogance will be your ultimate downfall."

"I don't need you to lecture me, Godric." I snapped. "I am an adult, and I don't need you to mother me! You wanna know what I think? I think you sound ungrateful! I saved you! You wanted to kill yourself, and I saved you. Don't bother denying it Godric. I saw the look in your eyes, and the look in your eyes told me everything. I knew it the moment you came to my room. I had to do something - anything to help you. Do you know what that curse was? Animam Comedentem. It's also known as the Soul Eater Curse. It was used to torture enemies, and it eats away at a person. It leaves a person feeling empty and worthless, and the curse entices the accursed to finally commit suicide. Only wanting to escape from that feeling of hopelessness!"

During my short tirade, I stood defiantly from the bed wrapped in the flimsy sheet and poked Godric in the chest.

"You came to me! You looked so hopeful - like you were finally going to have some peace. I didn't want to deny you that! So excuse me for caring just a tiny bit about you and your feelings!"

I went storming off into the bathroom to shower. The smeared blood began to coagulate and smelled horrible. I turned on the shower and set that water to the hottest temperature my skin could handle. The bathroom immediately began to steam up. Halfway through my shower, I decided I wanted a bath to soothe my tense muscles. Once I washed all the blood and sweat from my skin, I ran a bath. Hopefully, when I have finished, the extremely ungrateful vampire will be gone.

Unfortunately, that was not the case when I exited the bathroom in a hotel robe. Godric was sitting on the edge of the bed. I stood by the bathroom a little embarrassed because I was very much naked under this robe. It was a little strange that I'd feel embarrassed about it. It's not like he could see me naked. For heaven's sake, he'd seen me in my bra!

"I apologize if I sound unappreciative, Georgiana." He looked at me with those remorseful eyes. "I was taken aback by the amount of danger you placed yourself in to save me. You should not have for me. I do not think that I am worth such a deed. But now that it is done and over with, I will find a way to repay you for the service you did for me and my family."

"I don't need you to repay me, Godric." I walked over to him and gave him a tight hug. "I just want your friendship."

"I want that too, little enchantress."

Godric's arms wrapped around me, and he gave a firm squeeze as if he wasn't ready to let me go. He smelled so good. The scent was a mixture of the soap, a spicy sort of smell, fresh laundry, and an earthly musk that was uniquely him. So pleasant. I buried my face into his neck inhaling deeply. I heard Godric inhale deeply.

"You smell so good." He growled in my ear.

Godric's hand moved to my hair, and he tangled his hand into it. His other hand clutched the robe at my waist. Maneuvering my head to tilt, he exposed my neck. I could feel his breath moving slowly in and out of his nose as he rested his face there. He inhaled as if he was smelling fresh baked cookies or something. He wanted to eat me, and I wanted him to want me. I gasped when I felt his lips. Goosebumps raised out of my flesh in response to his touch.

"I want to taste you."

I heard his fang descend. My body shivered.

"Please." I moaned.

I woke with a start. My heart was racing out of my chest, and my body felt very confused with what was going on. The dream felt so real. I needed to get out of this tub.

Godric left the room. I felt disappointed and relieved that he was gone. Part of me wanted him near me at all times, but it was a good thing that he wasn't. I don't think that my mind could handle it. I quickly dressed, and I went to look for Hector. I found the vampire I was looking for in the business center of the hotel along with the King, Godric, the blonde sasquatch, and Isobel. I knocked on the door and entered the room. They all stopped talking and looked at me. The King was the first to greet me.

"Miss Raine!" He walked over to me to escort me to a chair that Hector pulled out for me. "Join us, please."

I settled down in the chair.

"Now, Hector, my child, please, will you introduce me to this lovely woman properly."

"Of course." Hector cleared his throat. "Miss Raine, this is my maker and King, Carlos de Viana. Master, may present the illustrious, Georgiana Raine of Safe Haven. She is the daughter of Celeste and Roger Raine, and she is the reason Celeste is irritated with us at the moment."

"I heard various rumors about you, Miss Raine." Carlos de Viana asserted while he looked directly into my eyes, "I hope that most of them are true."

"All the worst ones are most definitely true," I smiled and stuck out my hand to shake his.

He laughed at my little joke, and he took my hand. However, instead of shaking it as I expected, the King of Texas kissed it. It was a little strange, but it was not overly unpleasant. Suddenly, I felt a surge of irritation and murderous anger, and it startled me. I knew for a fact that these emotions were not mine. I looked to Godric, and he was pissed off. It was that kind of anger that you could only describe by exaggeration of the 'i' in pissed off.

"Having a party without me?" I laughed awkwardly and snapped my hand away.

"Of course not, nina." Carlos escorted me to a chair at the table. "We are discussing the punishments for Sheriff Godric's lieutenants and wants of the AVL. They want something done about the whole misunderstanding."

"Fucking Nan Flanagan sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this a Texas issue. Why is the AVL butting in?"

"Because, Miss Raine, Stan Baker and Isobel de Italia fucked up during Sheriff Godric absents. Going into that fucking church was a big fucking mistake." Nan fucking Flanagan marched into the fucking room. "They are demanding Godric's job."

"I believe I told you already-"

It's alright, little witch." Godric stood and walked over to my chair. "Miss Flanagan is correct in saying my lieutenants have fucked up. They should not have entered the church after you instructed them to remain in the nest. That foolishness cost the life of Stan."

Godric ran his fingers through my hair to comfort me.

"However, as you stated before correctly, the Authority holds power to remove me from my station. That power solely rests with the King. As Miss Raine declared yesterday, 'let the real people in charge deal with the business.' You may leave."

"How-"

"Godric dismissed you, Nan." King Carlos snapped. "I know you are not stupid. You and Roman know who holds the true power in Texas."

"Don't mess with Texas," I muttered under my breath.

Everyone in the room except Nan and I chuckled. I tilted my head back and smiled at Godric, and he returned my smile and kissed my forehead. I felt my face immediately heated up.