SOOKIE

How can I step from this stall when I know what awaits. I have never heard a vampire before. I would have told you I liked it that way but now I am not so sure. While Eric and Bill so politely fought over me, I loudly denied anyone's ownership of me, then I excused myself to go to the restroom. Just as I turned from Bill, I heard how angry he is that Eric has interfered with his mission for the queen and that I must be taught to heel properly by the end of next week. I used my years of control to keep the tears from slipping. Now here I am cowering in a public restroom.

I made it out of the stall finally and went to the sink. I managed to keep the tears from coming and ruining my make-up but my anger and fear could not be concealed. Just as I was exiting the bathroom, hoping to leave from the back of the club and evade Bill, I heard the awful thoughts. Great, just what I need , a club full of fired up minds screaming at me! I was so distracted by my thoughts I did not see the man before I ran into him.

I looked up and our eyes locked; my apology fumbled and died on my lips. We both began to speak at the same time. I giggled and lowered my eyes but not before taking in his appearance. He was not tall but average in height 5'9" maybe 10", short dark hair with a bit of curl to it, rippling muscles covered in some tribal designs, dressed simply but nicely, and he had eyes that opened his soul to me. "My name is Godric, I apologize for running into you, Miss..."

"Oh, my name is Sookie, Sookie Stackhouse. It is entirely my fault, I was trying to sneak out the back and was caught up in my own thoughts. I am kinda in a hurry, so sorry, excuse me." I made to get around him.

"Then by all means, let me assist you." and he holds his arm out to me like a true gentleman escorting a lady.

I readily take his offered arm and allow him to escort me to the back entrance.

"May I know why a lady such as yourself is 'sneaking out the back'?" he grinned as he asked, with sincerity in his voice.

"I came here tonight with my next door neighbor, William Compton, to try to gain information on some murders in my town. Mr. Compton has been acting strange though and then when the head hancho finally started talking to me and giving me some information the two of them began bickering over who I belong to! I do not even know what that means and I do not like the sound of it, so I told them no one owned me and fled to the restroom! Now I hear the cops are coming to raid this place and one of them is here undercover." I had gotten louder toward the end of my tirade and we have reached the rear exit. Godric held the door open for me. "I am sorry, I should not have yelled at you."

"I am a vampire also."

"I know."

"You know yet you are not afraid?" he asked genuinely very curious.

"Why should I live in fear? Life is full of beings bigger, smarter, faster, and older than me. I just have to keep living. Besides if you were going to kill or subdue me you could have by now and you are the first vampire that has not tried to glammour me within the first few minutes of meeting me."

"What do you mean try to glammour you and how did you hear about this raid?" he asked incredulously.

"Look, you seem real nice but I really want to get out of here, there are cops on the way and I cannot be here when they ge..." I do not get to finish speaking. A strong wind whips me up and we are in the air! Holy Moses! I am flying with a vampire. Godric is smiling, very amused by my reaction. He is holding me around the waist, I am facing him and my arms are wrapped around his shoulders.

"I did not want our conversation to end. Please allow me to escort you home and perhaps we can talk a bit longer."

I smiled widely in response. I could really like this man. "That sounds wonderful Godric. I live on Hummingbird Lane in Bon Temps, it is in that direction." I point to the noisy bayou and the thick forest beyond.

"Now, as I was saying, about glammour and cops?"

"I am afraid of people knowing about my quirk. Most people just think I'm crazy. Do you promise not to harm me?" I ask looking into his eyes all traces of my previous enjoyment gone. He stares into my blue depths for a few moments before responding.

"I find I can easily make that promise. You shall never come to harm by my hand and I will do what I can to protect you from others. I feel irrevocably drawn to you. You are very interesting and curious to me. After two thousand years it is very difficult to come across anything new, truly unique or special; you Miss Stackhouse are all three." He kisses my forehead and tightens his grip around me pulling me closer and nuzzling me. I have never been this intimate with a man but it feels...nice.

"I am a telepath, your all's glammour does not work on me. I heard all the human thoughts at the club tonight, most of them were just nasty but then I heard the cop right as I bumped into you. Do not worry I can't read vampire minds...well...except..."

"What is it? You are very frightened now."

"I never heard a vampires mind until tonight. When Bill and Eric were arguing, just as I turned to leave them, I heard Bill. He was thinking of training me to heel and turning me over to a queen. Godric, I am scared. I know that I am different maybe not even human but I do not know a thing about ya'll's world."

"I will help you. I have been wandering aimlessly and lonely for a long time. I will help you navigate this world you are apart of and we will discover your origins."

"That may be pretty hard. I have a cousin lost somewhere but the rest of my family has passed away. My gran was just murdered. I believe it was the same person that killed those other women, or at least Bill thought so. The killer is targeting women that associate with vampires, I believe. The only vampire my gran ever associated with was Bill."

Without realizing it we had arrived at my home. He seemed reluctant to release me. I let my hand slide into his as he let me down from his strong grip and led him to the porch swing.

"How did you know it was here?"

"You said you lived in Bon Temps. I headed towards Bon Temps then followed your scent. Sookie, where did your grandmother die?"

"Here at home. She was killed in the kitchen."

"Sookie, I do not think it safe here for you. I smell several scents around your home; vampires, fairy, were and Compton's scent is strong. Let me explain some things and see if you come to the same conclusions as I." I nod in response and turn to better face him. "Vampires have had to live in the dark for so long and have used devious tactics out of necessity to survive for so long that we no longer think the same as humans, though many of us are trying to integrate with modern society. However, we are governed by force and power because it is something we understand inherently. In the United States there are Monarchs that rule over regions, mostly state borders define a kingdom. Under each monarch are sheriffs that are responsible for running the various areas the kingdom is broke into. Vampires reside in these areas and they owe fealty to their sheriff and monarch. That is a basic outline. In Louisiana, Sophie Anne Le Clerq is queen. She can be very childish and is bound to the old ways. She does not wish to integrate with but dominate human society. For as long as I have known of Compton, over one hundred years, he has been procurer for the queen. He procures anything she desires, including humans. She likes to collect, as do many monarchs, humans that are unique. Eric is my child and sheriff of area #5, he would know Compton is in this area and attempting to procure, no matter what story Bill and the queen told my child. Since the Great Reveal it is no longer acceptable to force humans into slavery, Bill would not be able to openly force you. He is not capable of glammouring an entire community. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Bill Compton was sent to procure me for the queen! He probably had me beat on purpose to get his blood in me and had gran killed to make me alone and vulnerable! He wanted to be seen with me so people would believe I left with him! What am I going to do? Do you think he killed the others or had them killed? He was trying to get me to use my quirk in front of him. Why have you shared all this with me and how did I not see any of it?"

"Fate has decided we need each other. I came to Louisiana to say goodbye to my child. I had grown tired and bored with this life. I know that I am a monster and I really just wanted it all to end. As a last resort, I prayed to the all-god to send me a sign if I was to continue. Then I entered the back of the club and ran into you in the hall; before I had a chance to see Eric. I have never prayed nor had my prayers answered. You glowed with an angelic light and you treated me as a person. You needed me, and not for any nefarious political scheme or twisted self serving machinations. You are just the reawakening I have been needing in this life. You also are incredibly beautiful and you smell divine how much more could I ask for in a mate." My surprise must have shown.

"Vampires are very possessive beings Miss Stackhouse and anyone that is not property of a vampire, is up for grabs. Compton was attempting to force and prove that claim over you by claiming you in front of a bar full of vampires. If you had not disagreed, no one could have helped you. I will not lie, part of my help to you will be my claiming of you, but I will never force you or treat you poorly. I have been searching for you for two millenia. I believe you were put in my path very specifically. You said he has given you blood?"

"Maybe I should start from the beginning..." Godric and I spoke for hours of all that had happened in the last several weeks. He is easy to be with and I found myself revealing all sorts of things about myself. He is the first person in a very long time to listen to me and hear what I am saying. I told him all about Bill, the Rattrays, the beating, Gran, Tina, Uncle Bartlett, the rest of my dead family, growing up telepathic...etc...etc..

"Dear One, dawn is nearing. I want to know you better and I want you to want the same. I fear if I leave you here alone, I may never see you again. Please, I beg of you, come stay the day with me. We will talk more tomorrow. We will find a way to keep you from the queen and I will begin teaching you about our world. Also, I know someone we can call to help us discover your heritage."

I have never been comfortable away from my home but I have watched enough Discovery channel to know that only those that adapt survive. Plus my instincts say to trust Godric and he has already taught me a lot, at least a lot more than I knew, things others should have told me. Besides, who else do I have at this point? "I will stay with you Godric. Thank you, for everything. I have been lost without my gran and I am touched that you would honor me with your assistance and knowledge. I must admit though, I …..I am ….. I am inexperienced...in …...well in almost everything. I have seen anything you can imagine in the thoughts of others but I have never done any of those things. I have tried really hard to keep away from the world and its ugly thoughts."

"Dear One, I can smell your innocence, as can every other supernatural being. I will not take it from you. I will gladly accept if it is your gift to me, though; make no mistake, I desire you. I would like very much for you to consider a blood bond with me; it similar in importance to a human marriage except it is forever. William Compton started one with you against your will when he orchestrated your injury; it takes three mutual exchanges to complete. He should be able to track you and manipulate your emotions, also other supernaturals will smell his blood in you. Although, he did not seem to be able to control you. Whatever emotions are present when the bond is created are the ones that increase over time and with each exchange. Some vampires use these bonds to control humans, they can also locate them by their blood in them. There are stories of a few created of love, these bonds are stronger but much rarer in our world. I have very strong feelings for you Miss Stackhouse and am sure a bond between us would grow out of love. I also wish very much to override any claim Compton has forced on you. Please, while we rest this day will you consider being mine? I already consider myself yours." He placed a sweet kiss on my forehead and swooped us into the air again.

I held onto him tightly as he ghosted us through the night. I do not know how long the journey took. I was lost in my thoughts of all that he'd already told me. I felt I could trust him and I definitely did not want Bill to have any claim to me. I am so angry at being duped.

Godric brings us to a beautiful cabin in the woods. "This is where I like to stay when I visit this area. There are plenty of essentials for you during the day; I apologize for the lack of fresh foods. I will rectify that this coming night. Come I will show you my home."

Godric seemed pleased to have me here. His home is very beautiful and equipped with every amenity. I would definitely be taking advantage of the pool and patio during the day. Finally his tour ended in the master bedroom. Just as he opened the door with a retinal scanner a strange sound was heard throughout the cabin. Steel window coverings had slid into place. "You have done me a great honor placing your trust in me and I wish to return that trust. Please stay the day with me. Your warmth so close to me is a true indulgence. I will give you a code so that you may leave and return during the day but I beg you do not leave the house and patio." His eyes spoke volumes and I could see the true worry there.

"I promise I will only use the pool and patio for a while then I will return here." He seems very satisfied with my answer and shows me through his suite. It is more luxurious than I expected of him. His closet was enormous and his bathroom could easily bathe ten people between the shower and tub at the came time. "My grandchild Pamela is responsible for the excess of these quarters but I find I enjoy what she has created for me so I keep it."

"It is very lovely." I am feeling nervous but I am not sure why.

"Dear One, relax. I apologize for not giving you time to gather your things. I will loan you some of my grandchild's belongings until we can retrieve yours." He speeds away and returns with a swim suit, a sundress, underthings, and a floor length silk night gown. "This should work for tonight and tomorrow."

I take what he offered and scurry into the bathroom to freshen up and change. When I leave the bathroom Godric is already laying on the bed on top of the covers. I walk to the bed and look to him, unsure of just what to do.

"I thought you might be more comfortable if I slept on top of the covers Dear One." He pulls back the covers on the side opposite of his side, and I crawl in. I face away from him, I always lay on my right side. He pulls me close to him. I feel content with him so close.

"Godric, if the bond is a marriage then what are the blood exchanges?"

He whispers his response in my ear. "The first exchange is like a promise, the second is the engagement, and the third is the wedding. With each exchange the bond grows deeper, wider, more solid, and our understanding of each other strengthens. I do not want to rush you but I am certain of my feelings. I must admit I am quite caught up in them and that is very unusual not just for me but vampires in general. I FEEL a great deal in your presence." Punctuated by a low growl.

"Godric, I need someone to guide me. I do not want Bill Compton anywhere near me or in me. I have strong feelings for you also. Please, make me yours and please be mine as you said." I speak in a near whisper but with conviction and a silent prayer that I am doing the right thing.

"Are you certain? I would never allow you to leave me. I would keep you with me always. I would never allow another to have you and I would never want any but you."

"I am yours as you are mine, I can feel it." I am sure it is his presence that is making me feel whole for the first time in years.

"I will be very gentle with you. Just lie still." He brushes the hair from my neck and strokes his nose from my ear to collar bone. "I am going to bite into my wrist and bring it to your beautiful lips. Drink as deeply as you can and just let go. I will slide my fangs into your perfect neck and we will exchange at the same time; this will make our bond very strong." His voice is soft and brushes softly across my skin.

His wrist is before me and I latch on like a starved lamb. Bliss explodes through out my body when his fangs slide in. My body is on fire. I can feel his surprise and lust. I can feel his recent melancholy, it is so vast. I am grinding into him behind me. We are both writhing against each other desperate for a release from this euphoria. Soon he licks my wound and his wrist seals. We continue to hang on to each other.

"That was much more than I expected for our first exchange."

"Is that bad?" I ask breathlessly.

"NO, every bond is unique; I believe it means ours will be incredible."

I slip into dreamland before I can ask any more questions.