Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

and the truth of the matter is, i never let you go

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JESSICA

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So here’s the thing, Jessica followed Angela to Texas because it seemed like a good idea. She’d never gone anywhere, and if Pastor’s daughter Angela Webber could up and leave the state with barely an adios, Jess could impulsively tag along on the bizarro little road trip. Only, it was not so much a road trip. They didn't make any cool pitstops, and the only souvenir Jess ended up with was a rainbow tie-dye shirt from Buckee’s, and a block of fudge she spent way too much money on.

Oh, and like, the potential trauma she was definitely about to experience. 

Jessica was totally going to get some kind of insurance payout for this absolute insanity. Surely there was like, cult member escapee premium or something with Allstate—at minimum. Like a chunk of change for her to get her life back on track or something.

Angela appeared to be remarkably unbothered, which, in its own way was eerie beyond the psycho talking about God on stage. 

Jessica would like to make it clear she didn’t have an issue with religion—she’d ended up here after all—her problem was the wannabe cult leader spewing utter madness about vampires. Angela was nodded along, eyes shining, and Jess felt a little bit like she’d somehow slipped into the twilight zone on their drive down from Forks. 

Aghast, she watched in mute horror as Angela eagerly volunteered them for the lock in and the preparation about that. Not only did she feel stupidly out of place, it was becoming increasingly clear that Angela wasn’t. 

And what the fuck did that say about Jessica? It’s not like she knew her childhood BFF had a sudden hard-on for vampire hunting. Give her a stake and call her Buffy, because Jessica sure as shit did not sign up for this.

“Angela,” she hissed the second they were out of creepy cult earshot. “What the fuck?!”

Angela had the decency to look embarrassed. “Sorry Jess,” she mumbled. “I was just… I got carried away. With Bella and all…”

Jessica immediately felt like a shit friend. Bella Swan has vanished a few months before the vampires came out of the coffin—mostly after hanging around what Jessica had thought was a creepy cult-y loser named Edward Cullen. 

In retrospective, Bella Swan had been hanging out with the creepy cult-y vampire loser Edward Cullen. Jessica was pretty sure that she had done something heinous in her life, because there was really no way she’d run into two completely unrelated cults all on her own. Maybe it was a small town thing? Dallas wasn’t exactly a small town though. Maybe if you squinted and went to the suburbs. 

Angela was looking at her like a kicked puppy. Jessica scowled. She’d weasel her way out of this somehow.

Then Steve Newlin opened his fat mouth again. He reminded her of a car sales man. Sleazy, kind of pushy—only Steve Newlin wasn’t selling cars, and Angela was picking up the bullshit he was putting down.

But then again, a traitorous part of her mind whispered. Jessica had only really known of vampires. She’d never met one herself—she’d seen the Cullens of course, and it was impossible not to know what they were. Her mind wandered little, turning a little darker as Steve Newlin kept talking. 

He gave her weird vibes. Don’t get sucked into the cult, Jessica. 

She’d stabbed Steve Newlin at least 42 times by now. Mentally, obviously. Jessica wasn’t dumb enough to stab him in truth—and she also wasn’t falling for his nonsense either. He gave her the heebie-jeebies. He was giving Joel Osteen. 

Or Jim Jones. 

Jessica stared, astonished as Angela eagerly nodded along. 

“That’s what I was telling Jessica,” Angela agreed. “Our friend Bella, she disappeared in high school. We suspect she fell in with the… wrong crowd.”

Steve Newlin clicked his tongue. “These things happen—the devil is alluring, which is why we have to be stronger then that. God sees all.”

Jessica was going to be sick. “Do you have a bathroom?” she interrupted before he could continue his impromptu lecture on vampirism.

Steve blinked, clearly a little surprised. “Straight down that hall,” he said, pointing. 

“Thanks,” she said, trying not to sprint away. She ducked around the corner, fishing for her phone in her pocket. She slid it open, hurriedly sorting through her contacts. She opened the first door she saw, closing it silently behind her as she clicked on Lauren’s name. 

Lauren answered on the second ring. “Sup Jess.”

“Send the SWAT,” hissed Jessica, glancing around the room she’d found herself in. It was a staircase, which was fucking bizarre. Carefully, she took a few tentative steps down. 

There was some rustling on Lauren’s end. “That bad?”

“That’s an understatement!” Jessica nearly combusted, struggling to keep her voice a whisper. “This is literally a cult.”

“Are we talking People’s temple or Mormon kind of cult?” Lauren asked, a little too casual. Jessica made it to the bottom of the stairs. 

“Think Manson family or Heaven’s gate,” muttered Jessica, pushing forward in the relative darkness. 

“Oh shit,” said Lauren, sounding a lot more serious. “Are you serious?”

Jessica glared at her phone. “Do I sound like I’m kidding? This Newlin guy gives me the fucking creeps. I feel like he’s about to go all—“ 

Jessica cut herself off with a shriek. The man’s eyes, nose, mouth and ears were bleeding, metal chains held him down—inside of a cage. It was kind of overkill. 

Lauren was shouting her name, terrified. Shakily, Jessica brought the phone back up, and stuttered, “I gotta go. I’ll call you.”

She hung up, sliding her buzzing phone into her pocket as she inched forward. She’d seen a vampire before—Edweird Sullen and his whacko family, first of all. They’d all been ghastly pale, with weird fashion taste and dark circles under their eyes. 

They had looked healthy though. Weird, but healthy. 

This was different. He looked ill, if not flat out dead. Jessica didn’t know a lot about vampires, but she suspected face bleeding wasn’t a good sign. She hesitated briefly, glancing over her shoulder before she threw all caution to the wind. 

“Fuck this,” she mumbled, unlatching the cage door. She stepped in quietly, unable to stop the startled eep that escaped her when the vampire’s head titled, his bloody eyes falling on her face. 

Against her better judgement, she grabbed the chains, pulling them off him. He winced, and Jessica immediately felt guilty when she saw the burn marks on his skin. 

“What are they doing to you?” she asked sadly, mostly to herself. To him, she asked, “Are you okay?”

The chains removed, his skin started to stitch itself back together. Jessica sat back on her heels. His head flopped to the side and he seemed to lose consciousness. 

Jessica was muttering to him, unsure if he could hear her at all. As his body grew colder, so did her fear. She couldn’t say how long she was there—muttering comforting words to a vampire (corpse?) before the buzzing in her pocket grew to be too much. She answered it without looking at the caller ID.

“Hello?” she said, shakily.

“Jess, thank fuck!” Lauren shouted. “I thought you were being chopped up or something. Don’t do that!”

She looked down at the vampire. “There’s a vampire,” she said smartly.

“A vampire?” repeated Lauren.

“A vampire,” confirmed Jessica. “In a cage, under the church.”

“You’re shitting me,” said Lauren. 

“He’s bleeding,” said Jessica. 

“Okay,” exhaled Lauren. “Okay. First things first, Jess, you need to get back to Angela.”

“I can’t just leave him—“ 

“You can and you will,” said Lauren harshly. “Get the fuck out of there so you don’t get yourself killed.”

Jessica stood carefully, pushing the chains back with her feet so they weren’t anywhere near the vampire when he woke. 

If, her mind whispered mutinously. If he woke up.

She made her way to the staircase, grateful for Lauren’s quick explanation. “You’ve been on the phone with me,” she explained. You are going to keep talking with me until you get to Angela. I’m thinking of coming to visit and was interested so you were telling me how great it is there.”

Jessica swallowed. “It’s great here.”

“Yes,” praised Lauren. “Do you see Ange?”

“Yeah,” said Jessica, voice sounding more normal. “She’s right here.”

Angela glanced over at her approach, looking at her phone. She turned back to the people around her and said, “Jess and her phone.”

Jessica rolled her eyes, but didn’t protest. “Listen, Lauren, I’ll call you back later. It’s great here, you should really come and visit.”

“Was that Lauren?” Angela asked, wrinkling her nose a little. 

“Yup,” said Jess. “She wanted to know how Dallas was—get a feel for the area.”

“Lauren is a friend of yours?” one of the members of the cult—er, congregation asked. 

Angela have an awkward smile. “Lauren is… troubled. She involved herself with vampires a few years back. I didn’t realize her opinion had changed.”

Internally, Jessica screamed as Angela looked her her, eyes narrowed. She cleared her throat, forcing out the words, “She saw the error of her ways.”

Lauren had not seen an error in anyways. Jessica knew for a fact that Lauren was in some kind of relationship with a vampire named Victoria, and that she was seeing her tonight—like she did every night. 

Angela didn’t know that, though. And she’d clearly been under the impression that just because she’d thrown herself into religion, Jessica had too—which meant no Lauren and her gay agenda.

Jessica found the concept of a gay agenda to be hilarious. Lauren Mallory was lucky if she could remember where her car keys went. She didn’t have any kind of agenda. And she wasn’t even gay. Lauren was the straightest person Jessica knew—the Victoria thing had thrown her, but Lauren was a wild child at heart. 

Instead of letting Angela dwell too long, Jessica said, “So, the lock-in? What do we need to do to prepare?”

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QT was a gift from the lord above, decided Jessica, happily drinking her ICEE. She grabbed a case of TruBlood too, on a whim. Jessica didn’t know a lot of vampires, and worst case, she’d have nothing but an awkward moment where the teenager scanning her items looked at the TruBlood case. 

Jessica didn’t linger just in case. Part of her—and there was a strong part of her—wanted to throw in the towel and ditch Angela to head back to Seattle. But there was something there, this unhinged panic at the idea of leaving that vampire in the basement. It left a bad taste in her mouth, and she couldn’t bring herself to just leave without at least offering to let him out.

Which was probably an idiotic move. The Cullen’s were about the extent of her interaction with vampires—and that had been minimal. Edward was a total weirdo, going all child predator on Bella Swan. Bella was her own brand of weird, the quiet kid who thought she knew everything. Jessica was still mad about that incident with the bikers—sue her. 

Still, the Cullen’s, as far as she was aware, weren’t like, aggressive—or whatever the pre-coffin emerge equivalent was. Lauren hadn’t been much help either, more worried about Jess dying to the Fellowship then a vampire. 

Jessica glanced at the TruBlood in her passenger seat. She buckled it in. Just in case.

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GODRIC

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When he woke, it was in much less pain then before, the girl fidgeting nervously with a pack of TruBlood in one hand, and a drink of her own in the other. 

She felt his gaze, turning to look at him. She smiled a little, her lips and teeth stained blue. “Hi,” she said, holding out the pack toward him. “I’m Jessica.”

The blood on his shirt had dried already. He looked between Jessica and the chains. Her lips pursed a little, and awkwardly—uncertainly, she set down the case and pushed it toward the cage. Jessica cleared her throat, shifting her weight between her feet, she explained, “I was looking for the bathroom.”

Godric looked at her, watching her nose crinkle as she looked around the room. She was pretty enough. Dark, curly hair, and blue eyes. She had a sweet face. 

“I will not hurt you,” he said finally. Her eyes grew a little wider, and she shook her head, her cheeks burning. 

“I didn’t think you would,” she insisted, badly. She corrected herself almost immediately, clearly seeing something in his impassive gaze. “Well, maybe a little. I’ve never met a vampire before. Not really.”

Jessica sighed, gesturing toward the TruBlood. “I didn't know what kind to get—so I got a variety pack. I wasn’t sure if vampires had specific flavors they liked better or if it didn’t make a difference.”

He smiled a little. “It tastes different.”

Her smile brightened her face immensely. It was contagious. He liked it. “Oh, good. I um, I can get whatever flavor you like best.”

“Thank you,” he said. “I do not need to feed much, now.”

She frowned a little. “What do you mean?” 

“As a vampire ages, they need to feed less,” he explained patiently. He enjoyed the way her face twisted with each thought, her brows furrowing, lips shifting and her nose crinkling. 

“Cool,” said Jessica, sipping on her ICEE. “How long have you been all vampire-y? Or is that rude to ask? How old were you when you were turned?”

“I am unsure,” he admitted. “I was considered a man, but I have lost count.”

Jessica considered this for a moment. “So you are super old, huh?”

“I have not met many older then I,” he finally said.

Jessica sat down in front of the cage, stretching her legs out and crossing them at the ankle. “I’m eighteen,” she offered. “And I’m not one of those whackos upstairs. So do me a favor and don’t lump me in with them if you decide to go all Rambo.”

Godric hesitated. “Rambo?”

“Yeah,” said Jessica. “You know, Rambo.”

He did not. “I have not kept up with most human entertainment.”

Jessica set down her ICEE. “We’ll work on that,” she told him simply. “I’ll make some playlists for you.”

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She did. The next night, she returned with a CD player in hand. The CD inside had a loopy handwriting, little hearts over the ‘i’s, it read: songs for the vampire under the church. A little smiley face was drawn at the end, and Godric realized he never told her his name.

“My name is Godric,” he said. 

Jessica blinked. “Oh, huh. Wasn’t expecting that. Godric? Really?”

He fought the grin, desperately. “What were you expecting?”

She shrugged. “Something more… old.”

He laughed, startling himself just as much as her. She smiled shyly, setting up the CD player carefully. “I am sorry to disappoint,” he said.

“Not to worry,” she said a little hastily. “I started with the 70s, since anything before that I start getting a little iffy on. I’ll look into it more though, if you want. There’s a lot of ABBA, I tried to pick stuff I knew was good.”

“ABBA?” Godric asked, taking the headphones from Jessica carefully. 

“Swedish band,” she explained. “I like them.”

“What else do you like?” he found himself asking.

Her cheeks burned red. Her expression shifted slightly, and she sat on her knees, leaning forward a little. Her slender arms came through the bars, reaching to adjust the headphones on his head. Her fingers brushed against his face gently, and she smoothed out his hair a little before pulling away. He held still, afraid of moving and ruining whatever moment was happening. “Lots of things,” she mumbled. 

Jessica pressed play before either of them said anything further. He listened carefully, watching Jessica’s face. Her eyes were bright, and she chewed on her bottom lip nervously as she picked at her nail polish. He liked the music well enough, not finding any of it particularly notable. 

After the second song ended, he slipped off the headphones and asked her, “How many songs have you added?”

The blush went all the way down to her neck, and a little flustered, Jessica mumbled, “27.”

He liked this little human. 

“I will listen to them when you are gone,” he decided. “Will you tell me about yourself?”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Not much to tell. I came to Dallas because I thought it was kind of dumb I’d never been anywhere.”

“Where did you want to go?” he inquired politely. 

“Where don’t I,” she laughed. “I kind of want to go everywhere. My family moved from middle of nowhere California to Forks when I was five.”

“Forks?” he asked. The name rang a bell, tickling something in his mind, just out of reach. “Where is Forks?”

“Washington,” said Jessica. “I don’t blame you for not knowing about it, it’s not exactly a tourist trap.”

“No,” he said slowly. “I have heard of it. There are some… unconventional vampires that reside there on occasion.”

“The Cullen’s?” Jessica asked, looking only vaguely interested.

Godric frowned. “Yes, that is what they call themselves. Have you interacted with them before?”

It would explain her laid back attitude towards him. The Cullen’s were a little infamous about their steadfast approach in refusing to feed from humans. They were ‘mainstreaming’ before that was a term, choosing to survive off animals instead of humans. 

“God no. They are super weird,” said Jessica. “Edweird stalked the new girl for like, half a year before she just up an disappeared. Vampires came out of the coffin shortly after. We put the pieces together after that.”

Godric blinked, slightly bewildered at her explanation. “Ed…weird?”

Jessica scratched the back of her head. “Uh,” she said. “Edward. Sorry. The guy gave me the creeps. Bella was super cagey about the whole thing. He looked like he wanted to eat her and not date her.”

“Both are strong possibilities,” said Godric, a little cryptically. 

Jessica didn’t say anything for a long minute, when she did, the change in topic startled him a little. “So, do you want me to let you go, or something? I’m sorry I didn’t offer earlier, I was a little freaked out. I was going to leave earlier but I didn’t want to go without… offering.”

“You are leaving?” he asked, squashing down his disappointment. 

“Well,” began Jessica. “No. I was. But I don’t think I should leave Angela. It feels kind of, I don’t know, gross to just ditch her or something? Like, we came all this way together—and yeah, she’s not exactly been a great friend lately, but I can’t just leave her behind to get sucked into this vampire hating cult.”

There was a lot to unpack there.

“You do not need to let me out,” he said. 

Jessica looked unconvinced. “You want me to leave you locked up in a cage, under a church full of people who hate you?”

“I believe humans and my kind can learn to coexist,” he said quietly. He wasn’t sure completely why he was telling her this, it would be better if he just made her leave.

And yet. 

“Sure,” she agreed easily. “I think the same. But I don’t think that letting yourself be chained up in the basement of a bunch of… fascists, is a good way to go about it.”

“How else would I?” he asked. 

She shrugged a little. “I dunno, stage a protest—organize a food drive. Help the community. Most humans haven’t even met a vampire, so everything we know about you guys is from horror movies or shitty romance novels that I refuse to believe are accurate. You can set the narrative, you know?”

When he didn’t say anything to that, she back peddled a little. “You probably know better then I do though. You’re probably older then my grandparents. I must look really naive, huh?”

“No,” he said. “I find it endearing.”

He enjoyed the blush he received.

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JESSICA

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Jessica was totally screwed. Ignoring the issue with the cult—and the unnervingly attractive, borderline pacifist vampire locked under said cult’s place of operation, there was also the issue of Angela. 

Angela was going off the deep end, and honestly, Jessica wasn’t even sure where to begin. Lauren was about to have an aneurysm, to top it all off. 

Ben had called her. She missed it. Jessica had been curled up under a tree, half asleep as she tried to catch up. She’d gone to bed extra late last night, and woke up extra early via Angela. Sweet, insane Angela who had eagerly volunteered them both for literally everything. Sarah Newlin was teaching her how to bake. 

Jessica got put on construction duty. Obviously, she would not be participating in that. The guy doing the bulk work, a cutie named Jason had grinned at her dubious look, giving her a hammer and some nails before his gaze slid over to the tree. It was close enough that if she was called she would hear—but nobody would see her unless looking.

For a total zealot, Jason wasn’t so bad. If she was honest—and she wouldn’t be to anyone here, she didn’t get the fuss. Steve Newlin’s hatred made sense in a weird sort of way. His family had been murdered. It wasn’t clear why Jason was involved with the Fellowship, but Jessica suspected his reasons weren’t nearly as dramatic.

Most of the stories she’d heard were secondhand. Richard’s coworker’s wife left him to become a fangbanger. Amanda’s high school friend became a vampire and nobody saw him again. 

Angela talked about Bella when anyone asked. 

Jessica didn’t say anything—but she found the whole thing to be incredibly distasteful. Bella Swan had been going through something when Jess had known her. And she suspected it had very little to do with Edweird Sullen and more to do with the fact that her mom had dumped her with her estranged biological father to go travel the country with her new husband.

On some levels, Jessica could relate to Bella. Child of divorce, childish mother and absent father. Jess thought about her sometimes, in a distant, cold way. Bella had disappeared senior year. At the time, it had caused utter madness in the town. Rumors ran rampant. Charlie Swan was a shell of a man in the months that followed. 

If she was honest, Jessica had always assumed Edward had either convinced her to run away with him, or killed her. 

It was a little bizarre to realize it could be both of those things at once. She didn’t know for sure if Bella had become a vampire, or just vampire food. But the situation wasn’t traumatic for her, or for Angela, she didn’t think. Bella had been remarkably removed, detached from everyone and everything leading up to her disappearance. The person who’d Jessica had formed a delicate friendship with had disappeared long before she was officially gone. 

Jessica had settled against the tree, and passed out. She was perfectly fine, thank you very much—only she’d missed Ben calling.

Ben didn’t call Jess. It was a thing. They didn’t speak. What did you even say at a certain point? Jessica certainly didn’t know, but she strongly suspected, ‘Hey sorry your girlfriend ran away to a different state to join a vampire hating cult while you decided to join a campaign supporting a politician who wanted equal rights for everyone! Also sorry I went with her.’

It just fell a little flat, is all. 

Lauren was probably the answer—almost certainly the answer. Ben and Lauren had known each other since they were in diapers. Lauren had grown up to be a tall, pretty blonde with a mean streak a mile long. Ben was a dorky nerd who liked to take pictures. Lauren said it was a cosmic connection. Ben said it was forced proximity. 

Whatever it was, Jessica privately thought it would be the thing that would destroy all their future relationships. They weren’t together, and they probably wouldn’t ever be—but Jessica didn’t think anyone would love Ben more then Lauren did, and vice versa.

As Lauren put it, sandbox love never dies.

And Jessica Stanley had a missed call from Ben Cheney. 

Lauren was such a snitch. 

Jess rolled her eyes, dialing Ben’s number on muscle memory alone. He answered on the first ring.

“Jess,” he said. Jess winced at his tone. 

“What’s up?” she said, forcing herself to sound casual.

“Please tell me you didn’t,” he said. 

“I didn’t,” she said slowly. Ben sighed. “Lauren is such a snitch.”

“You can’t stay there,” said Ben. “I know you, Jessica. You don’t believe that shit anymore then me or Lauren.”

“I know,” said Jessica. “I can’t exactly skip off into the sunset though. I think it’s worse if I just leave.”

“Angela’s made her choice,” said Ben, a little harshly. 

Jessica’s stomach swooped. She hadn’t even thought about Angela, her thoughts far more preoccupied with Godric. 

She wondered if vampires dreamed. 

“I can’t just leave,” said Jessica quietly. She glanced around, locking eyes with Jason. Quickly she told Ben, “Hey, I gotta go.”

She hung up quickly, sighing and rubbing her face with her free hand. She shoved her phone into her pocket, marching over to the now nearly completed project. Jessica fished the nails out of her pocket, offering them with a sunny smile. “Need some nails with your wood?”

Jason grinned at her, holding out a hand. “Nice nap?”

“The best,” said Jessica. “I had a dream that my house was made of strawberry ice cream.”

“There’s a Braums around here somewhere,” chimed in one of the guys. Jason looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

“Never been,” she admitted. “I’m from Washington.”

The man chortled a little. “You try Whataburger yet?”

“No,” she said. “Is it any good?”

“Shit girl,” he said. “I’ll take you right now. Is it good. Jason, she’s out here askin’ if Whataburger’s any good.”

“He’s right,” Jason agreed with a smirk. “First rule of visiting Texas—gotta stop at Whataburger.”

“I thought it was Buckees?” asked Jess, a little hesitant. She didn’t like how friendly they were being. She had to remind herself that this was a racist cult. “And anyway, I can’t just leave Angela. Thanks for the offer, maybe another time.”

Jessica’s gotten really good at rejecting people. She wandered inside, her eyes drifting to the door that led down to Godric. 

She tried not to think about him too hard.

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GODRIC

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Four days. It took Jessica Stanley four days to worm her way under his skin, and plant herself there. He found her in his thoughts constantly, she had crept up on him and entangled herself in his every breath, every thought. 

“So?” she prodded, crossing her legs. Her glanced at her, bemusement clear on his face. Her socks weren’t matching, one a bright pink with purple polka-dots that went to her knee, the other a plain white that just passed her ankle. Her shoes had robots doodled on them in sharpie, and her shirt was an obnoxious yellow color. Jessica stretched out her arm, admiring her fresh application of nail polish. It was a sparkly blue. “Which are you?”

Godric wondered, rather passively, if this was a new fashion trend he’d missed—or if it was something uniquely Jessica. 

He blinked, his eyes falling back to her face. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun, her lips red from the berries she’d grabbed as a late snack. “What?” he finally said, forcing himself back to reality.

Jessica rolled her eyes, leaning forward as she gestured to the CD player in his lap. Her headphones blared the music still, slung around his neck. He could hear the pluck of the guitar and the beat of the drums—and all he could really think about was her. 

She looked ridiculous.

If he was human, his cheeks would be red and his pulse would be racing. Jessica said, “The song. He tells her that he can’t love her because he loves the sea too much. So, what kind of guy are you? Do you pick the sea or the girl?”

He’s saved from answering by her phone ringing. The Backstreet Boys proclaiming rather loudly that they are back. Jessica cursed, knocking over her bottle of nail polish. This led to more cursing, as she stood quickly, eyeing her phone with a look of regret. 

“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s Angela—she’s gonna freak if she realizes I’m down here. Listen, I’ll come back as soon as I can with a bottle of TruBlood. You like O positive?”

Godric found TruBlood to be repulsive, but he certainly wouldn’t tell her that. “O positive is fine,” he said, pleased to see her expression brighten. 

Jessica nodded. “Okay, cool. I’ll be back in a little, listen to the whole playlist please. I made that CD for you.”

He did as instructed, listening to the playlist twice before she came back—bottle of TruBlood in hand. 

“Which was your favorite?” she asked, passing him the bottle through the bars. He was mesmerized by her. Her cheeks and nose were sunburnt, her hair in a tangled braid. 

“The fifth one,” he answered. He wasn’t sure of the name, and was ready to hum the tune or say the lyrics. She figured it out quickly, her nose crinkling a little. 

“Huh,” she mused. “I wouldn’t have taken you for a Glen Campbell fan.”

She was, by far, the most bizarre individual he had ever encountered. Jessica sat in front of him again, crossing her legs. “So, funny story—the guys up top are planning on tying you to a cross and put you in the sun. Know anything about that?”

Godric cringed. 

“So?” Jessica tapped her foot, hands on her hips. Godric looked at her, the fear of disappointing her a little overwhelming.

Finally, he admitted, “It is true. I had intended to meet the sun.”

A whoosh of air left Jessica, and she deflated. Her lips turned down, her shoulders slumped. “Godric,” she said, voice a little shaky. “What the hell, man?”

“That was before,” he found himself saying. 

Jessica gave a watery smile. “I just don’t really like getting attached to people that are just gonna leave, you know?”

Silently, he swore he would never leave her. He couldn’t describe how this madness had begun, only that it had—and as easy as breathing, Jessica had waltzed into his life and made it a little brighter. 

A stray curl fell into her eyes. Jessica pushed it behind her ear. He watched, fascinated as it sprung forward again a few moments later, and she repeated the motion without thinking. 

“I have no intention of leaving you,” he said finally. Jessica smiled a little, looking down at her shoes—the one with the robots on them. Godric wanted to crawl inside of her mind and live there, to see the world as she did. He wanted to know why she picked robots instead of something else, why the only music she would listen to after 1990 was the Backstreet Boys, why she wore mixed matched socks but never shoes, why she stayed here—he wanted to know if it was because of him or someone else. He wanted to know if he offered her forever, would she accept? 

“Good,” she mumbled. She brightened a little, holding up a bottle of glittery nail polish. “Can I paint your nails?”

“Yes,” he said quickly. Jessica scooted forward, sticking her arms through the bars. He hand out his hand, swallowing thickly at the warmth of her skin against his. He forced himself to pay attention to the nail polish, the chemical smell and the way she carefully rolled off the excess on the inside of the bottle. Jessica painted his nails carefully, her pink tongue poking through her lips as she concentrated.

He wanted to taste her. 

“Why pink?” he wondered, forcing himself to think of something other then what she might taste like. She smelled like cinnamon. 

“I like pink,” she said, smiling through her eyelashes. He was going to eat her, he decided, admiring the light dusting of freckles across her nose. “And I like you too. Two things I like.”

Correction, Godric was going to consume her. He was going to drink her blood and taste every inch of her—then he was going to keep her forever if she let him. He was a good maker, a caring one. He’d keep Jessica forever. 

“What are you thinking about?” she asked. He imagined her tongue would taste sweet, maybe as sweet as her blood.

“You,” he said. 

“Me?” she asked, laughing a little. “Why are you thinking about me?”

Because you haunt me, he thought. You have somehow worked your way into my every thought. I can’t escape you. 

He struggled to find the right words—the right pattern that wouldn’t make her upset or terrified.  “I think about you most of the time,” he said instead of everything else he wanted to say. 

Jessica sat back a little. She smiled, a little shyly. “I think about you too.”

He would taste her lips first, he decided. Jessica sat back, a little smile on her face. She focused on innocuous topics, but there was a look in her eye that he didn’t like. She kept glancing at the cage he was in, her eyes a little wide as she looked at it. 

Jessica Stanley was the worst liar he’d ever met. He wondered how the Fellowship hadn’t sniffed her out yet. It was painfully clear that the only prejudice Jessica held was directed toward people she thought weren’t using all their intelligence. She directed the conversation back to music, moving forward to sit on her stomach. She had a small notebook in front of her, and she was writing something down. 

“So, we’ve got Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash—you liked Hank Williams, right?” Jessica brought the pen to her lips, nibbling on the end. Godric’s eyes lingered on her lips. 

“Hank Williams,” he repeated. Jessica grinned a little, bringing the pen forward to tap her pen against the notebook. A gleeful smile crossed her face, and she pushed herself to her knees. Godric swallowed, suddenly very aware that he’d thought of her like this before, though the context had been different.

He looked at the notebook. 

Jessica said, “Oh my god—you are a total cowboy! You like country music! No wonder you ended up in the South.”

“I have always appreciated it,” he admitted. “Though I never bothered much with it.”

“Where are you from anyway?” Jessica asked. “I never asked. Sorry, I guess I talked about myself a lot those first few nights.”

If he was honest, he’d been glad for it. He liked knowing things about her—about her home. 

“Gaul,” he said. “Now it is somewhere in France.” 

Jessica looked exhilarated. He would have told her much sooner if he’d known it would have delighted her so much.

“Godric,” she said salaciously, obviously referencing something. “That’s French!”

He shared a smile with her, even though he didn’t understand her reference—he knew it was one. In some ways, this was what mattered. 

Jessica said, “Remind me to show you the Addams family—not the black and white one, the one with Angelica Houston.” 

“Okay,” he agreed easily, and Jessica went back to scribbling in her notebook. The glitter on her nails caught the light. His nails sparkled too.

It went like that for a while, Jessica’s pen scrawling across the paper. She yawned.

He had started to hate 1am. Jessica, silly, strange Jessica, was not a night person. She faded as the night wore on, and every night, at 1am, he saw it catch up to her. He hated it when she had to leave.

Jessica yawned, speaking through it. “Lauren thinks I should leave.”

His heart plummeted so far so quickly it threatened to fall out of him completely. “Will you?”

She gave him a look, covering her mouth as she yawned again. “No,” she said sleepily. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“You have no reason to stay,” he said. He did not dare imagine his interest in her was reciprocated. 

Jessica’s brow furrowed, she looked at him like he was stupid. Maybe he was, he certainly felt kind of stupid around her sometimes. “There’s you.”

She said it so simply, so easily it took his breath away. Jessica stated this like it was something he should have known, like it was obvious. And in some ways, it was. She’d stayed with him every night since that first day—smuggling him bottle of TruBlood he wouldn’t drink. Jessica painted his nails, doodled pictures for him, showed him her favorite songs and made playlists specifically for him. She told him stories about her life and silly jokes she knew—and Godric was entranced by her. 

He was utterly enthralled by this tiny human. 

“You make everything a little easier,” she said after a minute. “And staying here, I’m kind of like a sleeper cell against the crazies.”

He had a billion things he wanted to say to her. He settled on, “You should get some sleep.”

Jessica’s face fell a little, but she dutifully grabbed her things—careful to not leave anything too outwardly obvious that she’d been there. She stood there for a minute, hesitating. She shifted on her feet, rolling one of her ankles in and out as she shifted her weight. 

“You didn’t drink much,” she said quickly, her cheeks red. 

“Yes,” he agreed.

“Aren’t you hungry, though?”

He was ravenous. He didn’t dare speak. 

Jessica glanced at the bottle, her blue eyes a little wide as she nibbled on her bottom lip. Wordlessly, she held out her arm.

He didn’t so much as breathe. 

Jessica twitched slightly, shifting her weight. “You could—I mean, if you are hungry—I could. I just don’t want you to be miserable—and it’s basically like going to a blood drive but this is more direct, and, and—I just, I know this whole thing is weird and I’m technically—well, I’m like really not part of this madness, you know, and I kind of really like you and I feel awful thinking you are down here starving.”

She stumbled over her words, her voice coming quickly and quietly. Her voice was heavy with exhaustion.

“Jessica,” he said, ending her rambling. “Go to sleep.”

Her eyes misted over, and he was left with the horrendous feeling he’d said the wrong thing to her. She bobbed her head, and his mind whirled as she took off. He watched her leave, something churning in his chest.

He didn’t dare try to name it.

.

JESSICA

.

She made it all the way back to her room, took off her shoes and laid on her bed before she made up her mind all the way. Jessica left her room quicker then she entered it, her bedside alarm clock reading 1:37am. She tiptoed down the stairs, carefully avoiding the creeky steps. 

It was clear by the look on his face he hadn’t expected her to come back. 

“Jessi—“ she cut him off by opening the cage, glaring at him.

“You need to eat something,” she insisted. It was almost an out of body experience. Even she wasn’t sure what she would do next. She stepped inside, moving to stand close enough that all he’d have to do is lean forward a little to kiss her. Or bite her. “If you won’t drink the TruBlood I got you, at least accept this.”

His expression was unreadable—most of them were, but Jessica liked to think she’d become semi proficient in Godric’s subtle cues. The slightest raise of his eyebrows, a minor quirk of the lip, the way he looked at her. 

She wasn’t sure about his current face, even when his fangs popped out with a little click. She swallowed, gesturing at him before she could lose her nerve.

“Well,” she said. “Get to it.“

His hand came up gently, slowly brushing her hair away from her throat. The way he was looking at her made her feel exposed—naked. She’d never had a guy look at her that way before. 

“Jessica,” he began, clearly prepared to talk her out of this.

Jessica scowled. “Bite me, Fangboy.”

He did. 

It wasn’t altogether unpleasant. His breath was cool against her skin, his lips smooth. It hadn’t even hurt when his fangs broke her skin. He pulled her against him, smushing her arms between their bodies. She sighed, his hands trailing down her back. Godric pulled away suddenly, his lips red. There was something in his gaze that was intense. His cheeks looked flushed, his eyes a little brighter. He looked more alive. 

He brought a hand to his mouth, breaking the skin on his thumb before bringing it to her lip. 

“Godric,” she said, protesting. 

“You will be in danger if they see,” he said. He brought his thumb up, wiping it over her parted lips. 

It tasted sweet, and she felt energized almost immediately. She got the whole fangbanger thing, suddenly.

Godric ruined it. “I have never shared my blood this way.”

Jessica blinked, suddenly aware of how close he was to her. His hands on her lips, his lips so close to hers. She tried to play off the thudding in her chest, her voice remarkably steady as she asked, “What do you mean?”

“The blood is sacred,” he said seriously. “I shared blood with my progeny, and no human before. You should know, there will be side effects.”

“Side effects?” she squeaked. 

“Nothing bad,” he reassured her. “But you will dream of me, and I can… sense… your emotions.”

Jessica wasn’t sure what to make of that. “Is it permanent?”

“No,” he said. “It takes three exchanges of blood for the bond to become permanent. It becomes more intense, as well.”

She had a lot of thoughts, but mostly— “Three times? Why three? That’s kind of an odd number. Is it the amount of blood or just three times? I’m serious, don’t look at me like that—why is it three and not like, seven, or something? What makes three times so special?”

“Once is an accident. Twice is a coincidence, thrice is a pattern,” he said. 

While a sweet sentiment, Jessica needed a more concrete answer.

“That’s a terrible explanation.”

He looked a little helpless. She took pity on him. Jessica fiddled with a lose strand of hair. “I should go to bed, before anyone realizes I’m gone.” 

“Sleep well,” he said. His eyes never left her, and she was pleased she only looked back at him once.

.

She woke breathless, her heart hammering in her chest as she sat up. By far, that had been the most intense dream she had ever experienced. Godric had mentioned dreams—he neglected to tell her it would feel so visceral, so intense. Her heart pounded, and shakily, she grabbed at the water bottle on her bedside. It was four in the morning. Silently, she swung her legs to the side of her bed, careful to dodge the creaky floorboard. 

She was downstairs in record time. Godric’s eyes followed her, taking in her disheveled appearance. 

“What the fuck was that?” she demanded. “I mean, when you said dreams—I wasn’t picturing that.”

He looked bashful, slightly ashamed, even. “They do tend to be more, sexual in nature.”

Jessica stared. “It wasn’t.”

He glanced at her. She blushed. “Well, I mean—kind of, but not like, what you are thinking. It just, it seemed so real. You barely touched me and I can still feel it. I feel like it really happened.”

He didn’t say anything for a minute. Jessica floundered a little. “Is it because you are old?”

“In part,” he said. “Though my feelings for you do not help. I am sorry.”

She screamed internally. “Feelings?”

“Yes,” he said evenly. “My feelings for you are particularly strong. I did not realize it would effect your dreams so potently. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s no inconvenience. I just, I didn’t know what you meant and this was, unexpected. You have feelings for me?”

“Of course I do,” he said slowly. “I have feelings regarding most things, most people.”

“Yeah, but like, what kind?” she felt a little exhilarated. 

“I assumed that was obvious,” he said lightly. “I have only shared my blood with two others. Both people who I intended to turn.”

She swallowed. “Do you? Intend to turn me?”

She wasn’t sure she was ready for the answer, whatever it would be.

“Jessica,” said Godric. “You asked me once, which I would chose.”

Jessica blinked, feeling a little wild as she struggled to figure out what he was referring too. 

“The girl,” he said, his eyes intense on her face. “Or the sea.”

“Oh,” she said, her heart clenching. She didn’t think Godric was the type to pick the girl. Jessica wished the ground would swallow her whole. She looked down.

“My Jessica,” he said softly. “I would be nothing less then a fool if I picked anything over you.”

“Oh,” she said softly. 

Godric said, “I would burn the world if you asked. I would do whatever you wanted. If you want to live out a human life, or a vampire one. I would give you whatever you desired. All you need to do is ask.”

She felt impossibly close to him. She was across the room, by the door, and their hushed conversation echoed in her very bones. The certainty in his voice left something wild rushing through her veins. She heard herself say, “I’ll need to tell Lauren.”

Godric’s brow furrowed a little, his gaze intense. “Lauren is your friend with the vampire?”

“Yeah,” she agreed. She’d moved forward, almost unconsciously. Her fingers wrapped around the silver bars of the cage. Godric hovered as close as he could without touching it. Jessica could feel his breath on her face. 

He looked like he wanted to say something to her. Jessica couldn’t fathom what. 

“Doesn’t matter,” she said. “We’ll need to leave here.”

His eyes were dark and mesmerizing and Jessica wondered if it would be possible to drown in them. “I need to pack,” she realized. 

Godric exhaled slowly. “Tomorrow,” he decided. “Sunset.”

Jessica swallowed, nodding a little shakily. “Okay.”

Chapter Text

SOOKIE

.

Godric would like Jane Austen, I bet.

It was a stray thought, but it stood out enough that Sookie turned her head. She glanced around the room, searching for that voice again. Her gaze settled on a short girl, head buried in a copy of Pride and Prejudice. She sat in the corner, her curly, dark hair piled into a messy bun on top of her head. 

“She knows Godric,” Sookie told Hugo quietly, voice barely above a whisper. “She’s thinking about him now.”

Hugo’s gaze followed her gesture, and he gave a little nod in understanding. “You go talk to her, I’ll mingle.” 

Sookie nodded her agreement, weaving through the crowd carefully as she made her way to the girl. Upon closed inspection, the girl looked like a mess. Her hair was wild, the Buckees shirt she wore had mustard on the front—her feet were bare, and her shorts had paint on them. She glanced up as Sookie approached.

Sookie grinned at her. “Hi!” she chirped.

The girl stared, like Sookie was the crazy one. Her thoughts weren’t any better. 

I can’t wait to ditch this shithole. Outwardly, she smiled, a little strained. It didn’t meet her eyes. She set her book down carefully. 

“Hi,” she said. “You new?”

“Yes,” said Sookie. “I’m—“ oh crap, what was her name again? “—Marigold.”

“Marigold?” the girl repeated, something akin to disbelief in her tone. Sookie barreled on. 

“That’s right,” she said confidently.

“Your name is Marigold,” the girl had a strange look on her face. Her eyes slid over to the pot of marigolds and back to Sookie. Her smile didn’t waver. Whatever. “Cool.”

“You’ve been here long?” Sookie asked, taking a seat next to her. 

Why are the whackos so drawn to me? First it’s Bella Swan and now it’s Marigold the Jesus freak. Politely, she’s said, “Only a few weeks.” Godric was totally right. I draw in the crazies.

Sookie’s grin faltered slightly. “Godric said that?“ she asked unthinkingly.

The girl leaned away from her, standing quickly. “I gotta go.”

“Wait!” said Sookie quickly. “I’m here to help him!”

The girl shook her off. “Back off, lady!”

“Is there a problem here?” Sarah Newlin appeared like an apparition, so swiftly Sookie hadn’t even heard her approach. “Jessica?”

Jessica. Sookie’s mind went to the strawberry blonde vampire, Bill’s progeny. She wondered if there was something with Jessicas and vampires. This Jessica, with the curly black hair and pretty blue eyes—she knew Godric.

“No,” said Jessica shortly. Her lashes fluttered as she blinked rapidly, adjusting her book in her hand. “Sorry, Sarah. I’m gonna go find Angela.”

“Good idea,” said Sarah, and Sookie watched in frustration as her only lead darted down the hallway, her steps light and quick as her fingers ghosted along the wall. Sarah Newlin was offering her some nonsense, explaining that Jessica was sweet if a little dim. Her thoughts on the matter were a little nastier.

Jessica disappeared from view.

“I’m sorry about that,” said Sarah. Sookie resisted screaming, and smiled placidly. “Jessica came to us nearly a week ago now. She’s been struggling.”

“Oh?” Sookie asked half heartedly. Jessica’s thoughts were focused completely on Godric, a thread of fear echoing around. She was nearly out of reach. 

“Yes,” confided Sarah. She can’t keep away from that fanger in the basement. “Angela worries about her.”

Sookie started slightly, squinting at her. She was just about to say something when Hugo closed in, threading his arm with Sookie’s. 

“Hey,” he greeted, a little breathlessly. “Steve offered us a tour.”

“Tour?” she echoed weakly. 

“Yes,” said Hugo. “Thought you might want to come along.”

.

JESSICA

.

It was only 4pm, but Godric was an old fart, so he was probably awake. Jessica hoped. She grabbed her bag, the one that Lauren had gifted her as a birthday present—the purple one, that slung over her shoulder and had an unexplained stain on the side of it. It was her favorite. She’d already packed, and hastily, she opened her notebook and tore out the page she’d written to Angela. She folded it, scrawling Angela’s name on the paper and placing it on her pillow. 

She could sneak down to him now, if she was careful. She needed to be quick, fast. Jess hoped he was awake. She collided with Angela on her way out. Jessica’s heart threatened to jump out of her chest. 

“Jess?” asked Angela. She sounded like Jessica’s mom did when Jessica had gotten anything less then an A. Vaguely disappointed, but not surprised. 

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Jessica’s eyes slid to the figures behind her once best friend. She burst into tears immediately. 

“You…” Angela hesitated, her face stricken with betrayal. “You were going to leave. With him. That vampire.”

Jessica swallowed, her cheeks were wet. “Please don’t do this.”

Gabe’s hands were bruising around her arms, and she squirmed in his grasp, turning enough that she could glare at Steve Newlin’ as smug face. 

He smiled, smarmy. Jessica wanted to punch him in the throat. “What, did you think we didn’t know?” he asked, voice light. “We have cameras, Jess.”

She spit in his face. He reeled back, his face twisting nastily. Gabe pulled her back, dragging her in the direction of the basement. Jessica struggled, opening her mouth to scream before his hand came down around her mouth. Her bag laid in the doorway, where she’d collided with Angela. Angela, Angela who looked hurt and sorry all at once—was quietly asking Car Sales Man Jim Jones what they were going to do with her. 

“The Fellowship doesn’t have a place for non believers,” said Steve. 

Jessica struggled further, screaming behind Gabe’s hand. He dragged her to a familiar room, the one that she always walked by to get to Godric. She thrashed in his grasp, her eyes widening as she took in that blonde woman from earlier. 

“Oh my god!” she said, as Jessica was thrown down. Jessica let out an unintentional oof from the impact, losing her breath a little. She sat up, Marigold—if that was even her name, rubbing her back. 

“It’s Sookie,” said the blonde. Jessica looked at her, a little kernel of fear curling up on her chest. 

The man was arguing with Gabe, defending himself. Gabe hit him, knocking him down beside Jessica. She cried in shock, scooting backward as Gabe marched forward. Jessica didn’t like that look, she definitely didn’t like the way he was looking at them. 

He grabbed Jessica by her shirt, forcing her off the ground. She screamed a little, kicking her legs. “Put me down!” she shrieked. 

She was on the ground in seconds, her hair jostled and her balance off. Godric stood before her, his gaze intense. Gabe hadn’t even seen him coming. Jessica certainly hadn’t. 

Numbly, she reached out to him, grabbing his arm with her hand. “Your shirt,” she found herself saying. 

His eyes moved down, the new splattering of blood stark against the linen. “Do not be afraid,” he said. To Jessica, it sounded almost like a plea. Her hand gripped his arm a little tighter. 

She glanced over at Sookie, who was shaking slightly. Jessica said, “Godric is kind, Sookie. He won’t hurt you.”

“People have not often described me that way,” he said. Jessica felt the brief, insane urge to throttle him slightly. Sookie looked slightly less afraid though, so that was something. Godric barreled on. “Never immediately after I killed someone.”

“Oh my god,” blustered Jessica. “Godric, don’t be so weird. I’m going to get you a t-shirt or something. Your slogan might as well be ‘avoiding social situations.’”

Godric stared for a moment, before tentatively asking, “Ass?”

“What?” demanded Jessica, bewildered. She paled slightly. “Oh my god, no!”

She pointed at him, “We speak of this never.”

Sookie’s startled laugh cut through the air so suddenly Jessica nearly jumped. Her smile was wide, more genuine then the one from earlier. Her eyes crinkled at the corners and she brought a hand up to her mouth as she tried to contain her laughs. Jessica found herself laughing too, and when she looked over, Godric was grinning too, a little.

“Hey,” she said. “What do you say we ditch this popsicle stand and head somewhere a little more cozy?”

Godric’s face was neutral, but his eyes were soft as he looked at Jessica. To Sookie, he said, “You should not have come.”

She didn’t seem to know what to say to that, but something caught her and Godric’s attention. His head titled to the side and Sookie stood quickly, excitedly saying, “Bill!”

Jessica wasn’t sure what it was, but something deep in her bones told her that it wasn’t who Sookie thought it was. Godric agreed with her. 

“No,” he said, eyes shutting. “I am here, my child. Down here.”

He appeared almost instantly, like an apparition. Jessica had known vampires were fast—Godric had proven that. She still jumped a little, her fingers tightening around Godric’s arm. He glanced at her, offering her his hand. She grabbed it, weaving their fingers together. 

“Godric,” said the vampire reverently. Distantly, Jessica thought Discount Manson would benefit from a lesson from this guy when talking about something he claimed to love. The vampire kneeled. 

“You were a fool sending humans after me,” scolded Godric. There was a bite in his voice Jessica was altogether unfamiliar with, and she found herself watching his profile.

“I had no other choice,” claimed the vampire. Jessica wondered if Sookie felt as out of place as she did. “These savages, they seek to destroy you.”

Jessica’s hand tightened around Godric’s. Over my dead body.

“I am aware of what they have planned,” he said. The vampire was looking at him, and he seemed terribly, horribly lost. Jessica kind of wanted to make it all better, like when a little kid busted their knee on the sidewalk and felt better after getting a cool bandaid and a popsicle. 

“We we’re going to leave,” she found herself saying. Her voice was quiet, but it was enough for the vampire’s head to snap to look at her intensely. His gaze was heavy on her, his eyes drifting down to their hands.

“This is Jessica,” said Godric, as though that explained everything. Something shifted, something small, and the vampire was looking at her again. 

“Verkligt?” there was so much in the single word that Jessica felt a little caught off guard when Godric merely gave a slight incline of his head. The vampire’s face softened, and he smiled a little at her. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jessica.” he said, and she believed him. There was something deeply sincere in face. “My name is Eric.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Eric,” Jessica said, and she found she meant it. She was happy to meet him—which, considering the day she’d had, she didn’t think she’d be so amenable to meeting a stranger. 

Sookie got her locked up. The cult she’d met had done the locking up.

Had it only been a week?

It felt longer, somehow. Maybe spending the majority of your waking hours daydreaming about a person made it seem like you’d known them longer. Or something. Jessica didn’t know what it was, not for sure. But she did know that she wanted to see where it would go. There was an intensity between them, her and Godric that made her heart flutter in her chest and her cheeks warm. His hand was cool in hers, and Jessica couldn’t help but notice they fit together perfectly.

An alarm sounded, causing Godric to shift. 

“Protect her,” commanded Godric.

“I am not leaving you—“ Eric protested. 

“Eric,” said Godric. “Take her. Spill no blood on your way out.”

Jessica squealed as she was scooped up, abruptly. She squirmed. “I can walk!” 

“Not fast enough,” said Eric, darting up the stairs. Sookie was hot on his heels. 

“What about Godric?” Sookie asked. “Isn’t he coming?”

“Godric will make his own way out,” said Eric. He was certain of this. Jessica was too, a little. Something had shifted, just a little. But it was there, and the same way she’d known on an instinctive level that it wasn’t Bill that had come in, she knew that Godric wouldn’t leave her. 

.

GODRIC

.

The room smelled like her. The air was stale, the overhead fan hadn’t been turned on—and it was clear which cot was Jessica’s. Most of her items had been taken already, haphazardly thrown into a bag. Godric wanted something though, even if they’d thrown out everything else. It was silly, but he had to check. 

He smelled her before he heard her. He turned, his eyes locking with Angela Webber. He knew of her, of course. Jessica was incapable of not speaking about people she interacted with. In some ways, he felt he could know Angela himself. He knew she had two little brothers, twins. Her father was a pastor. Angela liked bubblegum ice cream and Jessica liked that she always had a pack of gum on her—always. Jessica liked that Angela was kind, or that she had been. Angela liked to bake, and when she was younger, she and Jessica wanted to open a bakery. 

And the way she looked at him, he still felt like maybe he was the one lacking information. He wondered if Jessica spoke of him. He wanted to ask her, this little human. Did Jessica tell her about him? Did she bite her lip when she did? Did she know that she consumed his every thought? 

“Angela,” he said quietly. 

“You’re him,” said the girl. She shifted, rubbing her arm. The movement was so similar to Jessica that he was nearly mesmerized. He wondered who’s habit it had been originally. Was it something Angela had done, that had rubbed off on Jess? Or the other way around. She must have seen something on his face, something that gave him away. “She didn’t say it, not directly. But I’ve known Jessica Stanley since I was seven years old.”

A seven year old Jessica flashed in his mind. He pictured a snarl of curls, missing teeth, and lips stained blue. Jessica liked blue candy the best. 

“I would not take her if she did not wish for it,” said Godric. He wanted her to know that, truly. 

Angela Webber was nothing to him outside of her connection to his Jessica. That was enough for her to be important. 

Angela gave a wet laugh. “I listened to the playlist.” Godric didn’t respond. “You know, I really didn’t get it. I was so mad at her. I didn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. They had to show me the footage of her and you talking—I thought, I thought maybe you made her do it anyway.”

She wasn’t looking at him, bringing a hand up to wipe at her nose. She used the other to dig into the purple bag slung over her shoulder. She pulled out the CD. Godric’s heart didn’t beat. It didn’t. But he thought it might’ve skipped a beat anyway. 

“When we were in high school, Jess started dating Mike. He wasn’t a bad guy, just a teenager. She made him a playlist,” Angela held the CD out to him. Godric took it gently, reverently. “He still listens to it, you know. Jessica’s always had the best taste in music. She’s special that way. So, don’t ruin that, okay? Jess is a lot of things. She’s stubborn and kind of judgmental sometimes. But she’s loyal and loving, and Jessica will show you all the best music if you let her.”

Godric was old enough to read between the lines. Don’t fuck it up. She’s special. At least to me. 

“Thank you,” he said, tracing the letters absently. “She would want you to come.”

“I can’t,” said Angela. “Not after… Not after Bella.”

“She’ll still be Jessica,” he promised, if nothing else for a complete lack of things to say. He took the purple bag from her carefully. Angela didn’t protest. And then he was gone. He was careful to tuck the CD into a safe spot. 

He’d promised to take her home. 

.

JESSICA

.

Eric was the worst, Jessica decided. That Carly Simon song? Yeah, that was totally about him. Eric glanced at her, a little furrow in his brow. Jessica stuck her tongue out at him.

He’d let her walk up the rest of the way—a hand placed between her shoulder blades. Sookie kept eyeing him warily, like she wasn’t sure what to make of him. 

“Why don’t you just,” she wiggled her hands in front of her face, making a little ‘ooh’ noise. Sookie looked at her like she’d just had a mouthful of drool roll down her face. Eric appeared fascinated. 

“What was that?” he asked finally, something odd coloring his voice. Jessica rubbed her arm, shifting in place. 

“You know,” she muttered. “The Dracula thing.”

“Dra—“ Eric cut himself off, looking utterly aghast. “What has he been telling you?”

Jessica frowned. “Nothing,” she said defensively.

“I’m serious,” said Eric. “Your lacking knowledge of vampires is concerning.”

“Are you implying that you think Godric had vampire dementia because I called the Jedi Mind trick ‘the Dracula thing’?” Jessica asked in disbelief.

Eric clearly had a retort to that. Sookie, unable or unwilling to listen anymore, interrupted, “Shut up! There’s some guys over there. Remember what Godric said, Eric.”

Remember what Godric said, Eric, Jessica mocked. She moved her hands and made a face as she mouthed the words. Eric smirked. Sookie whipped her head around to glare. Jessica crossed her hands behind her back and pretended to inspect the paint. 

Eric stepped forward, Sookie hissing, “Eric, no!”

He paused, leaning forward, “Trust me.”

Jessica rolled her eyes, grabbing his sleeve and stepping out with him. “Come on, at least they’ll recognize me.”

Eric slouched. Jessica glanced at him, fighting a laugh. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to appear less intimidating, but it wasn’t working. 

“Hey ya’ll! How’s it going?” greeted Eric. Jessica choked on her spit. She coughed, wheezing out an apology. 

“Swallowed wrong,” she managed. The group looked vaguely sympathetic. 

“You need some water, Jess?” one of them asked. 

Jessica paused briefly, wondering who the fuck he was and how he knew her name. She didn’t say anything, just shook her head before she changed the subject awkwardly. “So uh, this is Eric. He’s supposed to stand guard over here.”

The one who’d offered her water looked skeptical. “You’re big and all, but there’s a vampire on the lose.”

Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck fuck.  

“Oh?” said Jessica casually. “I hadn’t heard.”

“Where’s your stake?”

Jessica looked at Eric out of the corner of her eye. Eric said, “Aw. Dang. I forgot.”

She was going to strangle him. Could vampires be strangled? Jessica decided if they didn’t get stabbed to death with a toothpick she’d find out. Starting with Eric. “Maybe I could borrow yours, if, if that’s okay?”

She coughed, clearing her throat. “Oh Eric,” she said through gritted teeth. “Don’t be silly. He needs his.”

“I’d very much like to borrow your stake,” said Eric instead. His eyes were locked with the guy, his voice doing a weird thing. He was totally going all spooky Jedi vampire on the dude. If they somehow got out of this without injury, Jessica was going to give Eric an updated lesson on pretending to be human. 

Before Jessica could say anything witty, Sookie cried, “Stake!”

Jessica had seen vampires move. She’d seen Eric move. Godric. It didn’t make it any less bewildering to see it up close again.  Eric had the man he’d tried to get the stake from pinned against the wall in seconds. Sookie darted forward. “Eric! Eric, you don’t have to kill him!”

“Well,” said Jessica. “That could have gone a lot worse.”

Eric spared her a withering look. 

Sookie said, “Let’s just get out of here.”

Jessica marched toward the door, poking her head out. She closed it immediately. “I spoke too soon,” she admitted.

“We can cut through the Sanctuary,” said Sookie. Briefly, Jessica wondered what the hell she was talking about. I probably should have paid more attention to Used Car Sales Man Jim Jones. 

Sookie choked on a sudden laugh. Jessica gave her a weird look. Eric’s eyes slid over to Jessica, who raised her shoulders in a shrug in a sort of ‘how-should-I-know’ way. 

“Are we ignoring the Buffy wannabes marching around?” asked Jessica. “I for one, don’t want to be a stab victim. It’s wise to not banter with your potential murderer.”

“Do you have experience?” Eric asked distractedly, moving forward. Sookie followed him closely. Jessica meandered behind. 

“I banter with Godric,” she snarked. 

“So no,” he quipped.

“He could totally be a potential murderer!” she protested. For some reason. Actually, Eric was probably onto something. In her defense, Godric was like, super old and drank her blood once. After she basically forced him too. Oh my god. Jessica stopped. Was she a predator? Like the vampire equivalent? Had she… forced Godric to drink her blood? 

Oblivious to Jessica’s internal panicking, Eric said, “Godric would sooner meet the sun then harm a hair on your head.”

“Yeah well,” said Jessica smartly. “Shut up, I’m thinking.”

“You didn’t force him to drink your blood, Jessica,” said Sookie randomly. Okay, so Sookie was either wildly insightful or like, psychic. 

Eric spun around. “Godric fed from you?”

“Uh,” said Jessica. “I’m more confused about how Sookie knew that. Are you and Godric like, penpals? Dude doesn’t exactly get out. He didn’t even know who Jim Jones was. I had to tell him.”

“She’s a telepath,” said Eric casually. Sookie looked offended, her mouth popping open in shock. “She’s not an idiot. She would have figured it out.”

“Oh no,” she said. “This is a total disaster.”

“It’s fine,” snapped Sookie. She was clearly mad at Eric. 

Jessica wanted to scream. “No, it’s not! Do you have any idea the amount of embarrassing shit I’ve thought around her!”

“If it helps,” chirped Sookie. “I’ve heard a lot worse.”

“No,” said Jessica. “It doesn’t, but I appreciate the sentiment. Can we just get out of here so I can crawl into a hole and pretend this never happened?”

“I thought you would never ask,” muttered Eric. 

Asshole, thought Jessica pointedly. She glared at the back of his stupid head and willed it to burst into flames. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t happen. 

.

The chains were wrapped around him quickly, and Jessica immediately felt bad about all those mean thoughts she had about him. Eric might have been a giant butthole; but she didn’t actually hate him. 

“Stop it!” she yelled, struggling against whoever was holding her. 

Sookie was blustering on about something, but Jessica was a little too preoccupied to pay her much attention.

A vampire ran in, screaming Sookie’s name. Jessica looked at him, and then back at Eric who was chained to a table. She exhaled slowly. This was admittedly, one of the more absurd days she had experienced in her life. That included finding and befriending an ancient vampire in a church (cult’s) basement and subsequently painting his nails a sparkly pink. 

The vampire—that was probably Sookie’s the same way Jessica had begun to think of Godric as her’s—was clearly very upset. And there was a part of Jessica that really hadn’t been expecting more vampires. It was kind of like that weird ass ending to Life on Mars where it turned out the whole thing was a simulation. I.e., random and hell and frankly bizarre.

Steve Newlin was talking again, holding a gun to Sookie’s head. “One more step vampire, and the girl dies!”

God, he was annoying—Used Car Sales Man Jim Jones really needed to get his act together.

“If you shoot her, everyone in here will die!” the vampire yelled back. Jessica certainly didn’t like the sound of that. “Let her go, now.”

Jessica tilted her head. For some reason, it hadn’t occurred to her that vampires could have a southern accent. In fairness, the only vampires she’d truly encountered weren’t even from the continent. So there was that. Still. She spared him a glance, wondering how old he was. He looked at her, as if sensing her gaze. 

“Honestly,” huffed Steve. “What do they see in you?”

Jessica laughed. Listen, in her defense, even a broken clock is once a day. A cult leader can be funny once in a blue moon. She schooled her face almost immediately, seeing the look on everyone’s faces. Eric tilted his head from where he was chained up. Sookie looked utterly offended. 

She cleared her throat. “Uh, carry on, I guess?”

Used Car Sales Man Jim Jones actually rolled his eyes at that. “Soldiers, some silver chains for our friend here.”

“Don’t—He’s done nothing to you!” protested Sookie.

“What, and we did?” demanded Jessica. “Sookie, I hardly think he gives a shit.”

“Sookie, I will be fine!” said the vampire. Jessica actually scoffed. Did nobody listen to her anymore? Where the hell was Godric when she needed him?

Used Car Sales Man Jim Jones dropped the gun, clutching his hand with a gasp. The crowd reacted, and Jessica found herself knocked to the ground unexpectedly. She reached out to brace herself against the stone, wincing as she felt a crunch in her back pocket. 

Well, there goes her phone. Bummer. 

Steve preceded to get shot with a paintball in the forehead. Jessica turned her head, feeling a little bewildered to see Jason of all people. 

“Let her go, fuckwad!” he shouted. 

Unbelievable. 

The vampire darted forward to Sookie, knocking back a few of the congregation. Jessica pushed herself upwards, running toward Eric as Jason was apprehended. Quickly, she pulled at the chains. 

“Sookie!” he said, like a broken record. Seriously, thought Jessica sourly. Did the dude have any other word in his vocabulary.

“Are you okay?” she asked Eric. He gave her the stink eye, sitting up. His wounds knitted together quickly. 

“Fine,” he said darkly, swinging his legs over the side of the slab of concrete. The coffin stand. Alter. She was totally blanking on the name, and Eric was totally going to murder Steve Newlin. She grabbed his arm. 

“Wait!” she hissed. 

The look he gave her could have melted butter. She glared right back. “Don’t murder him—it'll piss off Godric and you won’t be able to mind juju him into stepping into an ant pile whenever he thinks about life’s simple pleasures.”

Eric actually stopped his movements at that. “Do you hear the words you say, or is it just white noise?”

Her mouth dropped open in shock. She smacked his shoulder, hurting her hand more then him. She shook it out a little. “I’m not the one who went into a cult full of people trying to kill me!”

He didn’t even respond to that, all but disappearing and reappearing next to Steve and slamming him into the stairs that led to the alter situation. 

“Do not kill him!” said Sookie, as if she had any control over the situation.

“I literally just said that,” chimed in Jessica as Jason shouted the literally opposite of what Sookie had said. 

Eric was totally thinking about killing him, and Discount Joel Osteen was egging him on, claiming he would be a martyr. Jessica wanted to jump into a vat of acid and dissolve. This was borderline ridiculous.

Her phone rang. 

“Like a rhinestone cowboy,” sang her ringtone. Jessica would have been perfectly fine if the ground chose that moment to swallow her whole. “Riding out on a horse in a star spangled rodeo!”

This was the single most humiliating thing that had ever happened to her. She shoved her hand into her pocket, frantically whacking the device in her hand. Of course at that moment, the doors swung open, and in marched a bunch of vampires. The one leading the parade wore a cowboy hat. 

What was it she’d thought about a vat of acid? Scratch that, she’s going to invent a time machine and murder whoever invented setting your own ringtones. Her phone simply would not shut up, and in her continued, silent panic, she lobbed it at the wall. It went silent. 

“Steve Newlin, you have pushed us too far,” said the cowboy vampire after a few moments. “You expect us to sit on our thumbs while you round up your men to come lynch us?”

At least Steve looked appropriately terrified. Jessica felt a little out of place, frankly. She picked at a thread on her shirt, noting in mute horror that she had a few drops of Gabe’s blood on it—and, mustard. Of course she did. 

“We’ll kill you first.” said the vampire. Jessica distantly wondered if she was going to die here. The atmosphere shifted, and Jessica really didn’t feel like laughing anymore. She took an unconscious step backwards, nearly skipping a step on the stairs and falling backwards. She wobbled slightly as she regained her balance, her eyes wide. The vampire continued, “Same way we did your father.”

Steve screamed, “Murderer!”

The cowboy vampire said, “Destroy them. All of them.”

Jessica screamed as a pair of arms wrapped around her. She turned her head, nearly sobbing with relief that it was just Godric. He studied her face for a moment, brushing a stray curl from her eyes. 

“Are you well?” he asked, holding out her bag to her. Jessica’s fingers grasped the strap numbly. She nodded, swallowing. 

“Can we leave?” she asked quietly. 

“Soon,” he said. He moved quickly, to the alter where Eric had been chained. 

“Enough,” said Godric. His voice carried across the room, halting all movement. “You came for me, I assume.”

Jessica exhaled, feeling a little shaky. She set her bag down. 

“These people have not harmed me,” said Godric. Jessica turned her head, looking at him in complete and utter disbelief. Godric totally had vampire dementia, she decided then. If he didn’t remember being chained up. He was kind of a pacifist though. 

Ugh. 

Was she going to have to be the one that talked to managers when the food was wrong? 

Bummer.

He tilted his head, looking at her as he continued speaking, “You see. We can coexist.”

He turned his head back to the crowd. “Mr. Newlin, I do not wish to create bloodshed when it is uncalled for. Help me set an example. If we leave you in peace, will you do the same?”

Scratch that last statement. Godric could totally go Karen if needed. Jessica wished she had her notebook. She wanted to write this all down. It was already overflowing with facts about him, things she knew he liked, disliked. Things he’d told her she didn’t want to risk forgetting. 

Then Dollar Tree Manson opened his dumb mouth, “I will not negotiate with subhumans.”

He then turned to Eric. “Kill me,” he said. “Do it. Jesus will protect me.”

Privately, Jessica thought Jesus had protected him by having it be Godric that ended up here and not another vampire. 

“I am actually older then your Jesus,” said Godric. “I wish I could have known him, but I missed it.”

Godric appeared behind Steve, grabbing him by his shirt. “Good people,” he continued. “Who of you is willing to die for this man’s madness.”

The room was utterly silent. Jessica had the sudden, intense urge to cough. She resisted.

“That’s what I thought,” said Godric. She was kind of reminded of in middle school when she’d convinced herself she was in love with Mike Newton, and he’d casually caught a dodgeball hurling toward her in gym class with one hand. “Stand down everyone.”

Her heart hammered in her chest. She wanted to twirl a strand of hair in between her fingers and let him drink her blood and maybe kiss her—if he wanted too. 

Sensing the whole thing was nearing the end, Jessica adjusted her bag over her shoulder. Godric told everyone to go home, and Jessica started to wander forward as the rest of the humans started to shuffle out while Godric pushed Steve forward.

She came to stand beside him, rubbing her arm as she shifted in place.

“I dare say my faith in humankind is stronger then yours,” said Godric. Jessica grabbed his hand gently.

“I think you just like people,” she mumbled. “Like in general.”

Godric’s face was neutral, but she could see something of a smile in his eyes. 

The cowboy approached. “Sir,” he said, looking at her a little distastefully. “After what these humans have done to you—“

Godric ignored him. “Jessica,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

She glanced at the cowboy. “I can wait,” she said. 

He looked at her for a moment, before moving forward. “Come,” he said to the room at large. 

Jessica followed closely.

.

GODRIC

.

“So, then there was like, this whole thing with Eric pretending to be human,” Jessica was saying between bites of her burger. He observed her silently, enraptured by her movements. “Before you came in, I fell on my phone and it wouldn’t stop ringing. I sort of panicked and threw it at the wall when Butch Cassidy walked in.”

Godric hesitated. “Why?”

Her cheeks burned bright red. She smelled delicious. Jessica pulled a pickle out of her burger, popping it into her mouth and chewing it for a moment as an excuse not to answer. She glanced away, mumbling, “My ringtone is Rhinestone Cowboy.”

He smiled. “I hope the phone was a worthy sacrifice.”

“I wanted to curl up into a ball and die,” she said blithely. “It was so embarrassing, Godric! And then Professor X reading my mind too.”

“Professor X?” he asked her, shifting a little so their thighs touched. Jessica nodded seriously, leaning into his touch unthinkingly. She placed a hand on his knee, leaning in. 

“Mind reader,” she said. “Imagine your most intimate thoughts—ripe for the picking! Do you have any idea how much stuff goes through my head? I totally thought about something weird around her. I don’t even know where to begin.”

“Are you referring to Ms. Stackhouse?” he asked, the puzzle clicking together. Jessica sighed, grabbing her sprite and taking a sip. She leaned her head against his shoulder. 

“This is worse then ASS,” she bemoaned.

He actually laughed at that reminder, unable to help it. Eric froze in the doorway, looking startled. Jessica looked panicked, her eyes narrowing as she pointed at Godric and commanded, “He can never know about that! Swear it!”

“I swear it,” he said. She held up her pinky, her face serious. 

“Pinky promise, Godric,” she insisted. He obliged, feeling Eric’s stare as he wound their fingers together. Satisfied, Jessica turned her attention back to her burger. He watched her. 

“Godric,” said Eric finally. He’d come to stand in front of them. Jessica glanced between them, her cheeks puffed out with a particularly large bite. Her eyes a little wide, she brought a hand to her mouth and managed, “I’ll go find Sookie!”

“No—“ he started to protest, but Jessica had already grabbed her drink. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, waltzing out of the room. He sighed. 

“She’s… something,” said Eric finally. He’d watched her leave, his head still turned in that direction. Passively, Godric wondered if Eric had the same uncanny sense of her that he possessed—however distant. He’d heard rumors that it worked like that. Whole bloodlines would be effected by the echo of it. And Godric had always been particularly close with Eric. 

“Do you sense her?” he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

Eric hesitated. “A little. The way you would sense Pam.”

“It will be stronger when she turns,” he said. 

“You plan on turning her?” questioned Eric seriously. “Has she said anything about it?”

“I won’t be without her,” said Godric. He didn’t leave Eric to dwell on that long, moving to be beside her once more. 

He carefully ignored the feel of Eric’s gaze on his back. 

“You should talk to him,” said Jessica. She picked at her cuticles, worrying her bottom lip. “He cares about you.”

“Does he?” mused Godric. He wondered if she could feel it, or if she was particularly observant.

Jessica looked at him rather pointedly. “Of course he does. That’s clear to anyone with eyes. Even Jean Grey can tell. But maybe that’s not saying anything because she can just pluck the thought from your head.”

He wished he could read her mind, to peel back all the layers and the faucets of her thoughts and emotions. Godric wanted to nestle himself inside of her, to hold every thought of hers with his own. He was staring at her again. Jessica shifted, doing that thing she did with her ankle when she was nervous about something. 

“So,” she said. “Sheriff? What’s up with that?”

“I am the authority of this area,” he said. 

“The Authority?” She would latch onto that. He didn’t think there was harm in telling her now, but he imagined it might have more impact once she was a vampire. 

“Rulers of our world,” he explained simply. “I’ll tell you about them later.”

Jessica bobbed her head up and down, she looked up at him, puffing her cheeks out before asking, “You still want to do that road trip with me?” 

He smiled. “Of course. I would very much like to see your home.”

She smiled, brightening suddenly. “I’ll be right back, I have something for you!”

She moved to her bag, across the room. The door clicked. It seemed to happen very quickly. His ears rang. 

“I’m with the Fellowship.”

—then.

—Jessica wasn’t next to him. She’d been grabbing something from her bag. Godric sprinted to her, smelling her blood before he so much as saw her. He dropped to his knees, brining a hand to cover the wound on her neck. 

“Jessica,” he said. She choked, blood pouring out of her mouth. Her eyes were glassy, unfocused as she drowned in her own blood. 

“Look at me,” he commanded. Her gaze snapped to him. Gently, he covered her hands with his own. “I need you to agree.”

“Oh my god—“ Sookie’s voice cut through the air, her voice cracking. She kneeled beside them, bringing a hand to stroke Jessica’s hair from her face. “She says yes.”

He did not hesitate. Jessica whimpered, bringing a bloody hand up to grasp at his shirt. Her grip slackened, and as he forced her to drink his blood, his eyes fell to Eric. 

“Quickly!” he said. “Dawn nears.”

Eric was gone in seconds. Carefully, he picked up Jessica. Her head flopped to the side, and fear clutches at his very being. A world without her was not one he wished to inhabit. If she did not rise, he wouldn’t either. It had been so long since he had seen sunlight. 

And then it was just them. Jessica was dead in the ground with him, and as he died for the day—he hoped she would rise too.

.

She did.

.

Chapter Text

.

JESSICA

.

So, as it would turn out, clawing out of a grave was tough business. The soil was compacted, and not loosely either. Jessica twisted and turned, worming her hand to what she believed to be the surface—to freedom, to Godric.

She wasn’t totally dumb. Getting a piece of shrapnel lodged in her throat and her vampire kinda boyfriend asking for permission to turn her kind of gave it away.

Her throat burned—and there was something there, just under the surface of his skin buzzing around and electric, pulling her. She clawed her way up. Her fingers broke through first, and a smooth hand met hers. Godric. She knew this the way she knew the sky was blue and the grass was green.

Their hands clasped, and he pulled. She broke through the surface much quicker. She exhaled quickly, bringing a hand up to rub the dirt off her face. Godric’s hands came up to help her, pushing a curl behind her ear as he cupped her face.

“Jessica,” he said, voice soft, low. If she had a heart beat, it would be racing. She wanted to crawl inside of him and nest there. “Are you hungry?”

“I can wait,” she said. Godric’s face was gentle, and he looked relieved. Carefully, she reached forward, grabbing his hand in hers. “So, what happens now?”

.

He took her to the Hotel Carmella. Eric hovered like a mother hen, seemingly irritated with whatever nonsense that had occurred during the hiatus Godric took to turn Jessica.

So, new perk of vampirism apparently. Jessica adored Eric. She found herself obsessed with him the way a little kid loves. Fiercely, irreverently, easily. She wanted to twirl her hair and giggle—but also sucked punch him in the throat.

Overall, nothing changed there. Also, she totally got a sixth sense. Jessica was totally an empath now. It started with Godric, obviously—dude had gone from intermediate reading level to like, Dick and Jane. See Godric happy. See Godric sad.

Eric was a whole other monster, but still shockingly easy to read. He was clearly upset about something—Jessica knew this because she’s a vampire and totally has super powers now. Take that, mom. Totally not a phase. She needed to get some black eyeliner or something. Really lean into the moody vampiric empath thing.

“Eric,” she said finally, after he put his head in his hand and sighed. “What crawled up your ass and died?”

Godric’s face was neutral, but she felt something resembling amusement—a feeling which was distinct and tangibly not Jessica’s, but she’d unpack that later, when she could finally get her maker alone and pester him about her newfound super power.

She sips on her blood. Godric had gotten her a swirly straw. It was B positive, and tasted like that feeling you get when you realize the paper you were panicking over was actually due tomorrow and not today. And like, specifically pistachio pudding, for some reason.
It was hard to describe, but it was fucking delicious.

Eric finally said, “They sent Nan Flanagan.”

“Oh the horror,” quipped Jessica, swirling a mouthful of blood. She rolled it around in her mouth for a minute before swallow. She used the straw to blow bubbles the way you could do with milk. It wasn’t as satisfying, the bubbles popping and goopy, like eggnog in consistency. She turned to Godric. “Who’s Nan Flanagan?”

“A blight,” hissed Eric. His emotions were a little overwhelming, so Jessica focused on Godric.

“She is an activist,” said Godric, much more tactfully. Jessica was glad he was old and had a handle on things. Eric was probably like the vampire equivalent of a moody teenager. If Jessica was considered a baby now, that is.

Jessica hummed. “And why do we hate her?”

Godric said, “We have no opinion. Eric finds her insufferable.”

To Jessica, Eric said, “She’s infuriating.”

Jessica kicked her feet up, poking a toe through her muddy socks. “Is this the vampire version of when a little boy pulls a girls pigtails because he has a crush on her?”

Eric didn’t bother to answer, focusing his attention on their maker. “She wants you fired—she’s blaming the attack on you.”

Godric didn’t look particularly put out by this news, but Jessica certainly wasn’t going to say anything to Eric about that. “Is there a shower? And like, clothes?” she asked. “I feel kind of like Jenny Greenteeth.”

Godric was quick to show her to the restroom, promising that he would have her clothes ready for her when she got out. Jessica pressed a kiss to his cheek, and slammed the door shut. She slurped down the rest of her blood cup, and eyed her reflection warily. She looked like the Crypt Keeper. Her hair was a snarled, tangled mess—caked with her own blood and dried mud. She dreaded detangling it, but she’d be damned if she started off eternity resembling a washed up Edward Scissorhands. Jessica sat down the cup, pulling out a brush.

“It’s go time.”

.

GODRIC

.

Jessica’s voice carried over the sound of the running water, her halfhearted singing providing a strange ambiance to the room. Eric wrinkled his nose at the mud in his hair—clearly remembering the state he’d been in when they’d first met so long ago.

Once, Godric had found showering to be pointless. In some ways, he still did now. Vampires did not sweat, so there was no reason to shower daily unless you were a particularly messy eater.

Eric said, “At least she can carry a tune.”

Godric nodded. Truthfully, he couldn’t imagine caring at all about how Jessica sounded. He enjoyed hearing her speak on any manner of topic. Her singing was just an extension of that, a small peek into her strange little mind. The feeling he had for her when she was human had intensified—enough that he was certain she felt it too. Frankly, he was a bit surprised she hadn’t rubbed herself against him like a cat in heat when she first crawled out of her grave. It wasn’t uncommon for a normal relationship between maker and childe to involve sex.

It was nothing short of a miracle he hadn’t fucked her against a tree or something.

“What do you have planned?” Eric asked, when it became clear Godric certainly wasn’t going to carry the conversation.

“Jessica wanted to return home,” he said. “I will take her there. When she tires of Washington, we will return to you.”

“Washington?” questioned Eric distastefully. “And live under Cullen rule? You’ve seen her. She’s composed now, but she’s still a newborn.”

“I’m aware,” he said. “She feels you as I do. Do you feel her as you do me?”

Eric blinked a little. “I had thought it was you.”

“No,” he said. “I haven’t opened our bond. I don’t think you would appreciate the feelings I have for her.”

Eric stared.

When Eric didn’t say anything for a moment, Godric continued, “I’m going to resign from my position as Sheriff. Carlisle will have no issue with Jessica and I in his territory.”

Eric sat back. “If you insist.”

.

JESSICA

.

Godric had a weird habit of casually dropping complete bombshells on her. Jessica’s hair is wrapped in a towel on her head, and she’s flicking off water droplets while rummaging around in her bag when he announced he was quitting being sheriff to go on a road trip with her.

She’s totally envisioning An Extremely Goofy Movie—but she’s Goofy and Godric is Max. Only they aren’t related. Except maybe they kind of are now? She’s kind of his vampire baby now. Which, puts a weird level on the way they’d been orbiting each other before. Is this vampire incest?

Oh god, Jessica’s into her vampire daddy. Godric, of course, remained oblivious or unconcerned about her emotional state and continued, “Eric believes I should mention to you our status as mates.”

“Say what?” her mind does a little, does not compute fax machine sound.

“It’s very rare,” he said, as though that was a reasonable explanation. He must have sensed her confusion, because in a rare moment of levity, he continued with, “The bond between us will remain particularly strong even as you age.”

“Bond?” she repeated. “What are you talking about right now?”

He hesitated, and Jessica could sense his earnest confusion. “You’ve felt the emotions that aren’t yours.”

Her mouth dropped open. Anguish washed over her like a tidal wave. Angrily, she ripped the towel from her head and threw it on the ground. “The whole time! The whole time. Godric, my man, we have got to get you like a speech therapist or speechwriter or something. Like, dude.”

“I thought you knew,” he admitted. And yeah, now that he pointed it out, it was super obvious that the emotion sense worked both ways. Jessica exhaled slowly.

“I’m getting dressed,” she announced. “Don’t move, we’ll continue this when I get back.”

Godric dutifully did as he was told. And wasn’t that bizarre—bossing around an ancient vampire like he was a naughty toddler?

Jessica flopped on the bed beside him, their legs touching. She didn’t even mind the dirt on him. He smelled amazing, something indescribably Godric and earthy. It was kind of like of heroin had been rolled up into a delicious smell.

“So what,” Jessica finally asked, looking at him dubiously. “We’re like, soulmates? Or something.”

He looked down a little. “That may be putting it a little mildly.”

This was the most absurd conversation she had ever had. And that was saying something, considering she’d been spending the last month sneaking into the basement of a cult homebase and swapping stories with a literal ancient vampire before getting blown up and then turned into a vampire herself.

Speaking of ancient, she needed to ask about ancient aliens purely to see the look on Eric’s face. He was too easy to wind up.

“What does that mean for us?” she finally asked. Eric had been gone when she’d gotten out of the shower, feeling about 10lbs lighter with all the dirt and twigs gone. She slipped on a pair of red gym shorts and an oversized hoodie that said, Good Vibes in sparkly hot pink letters and looked like Lisa Frank had vomited all over it.

“Nothing,” he said. Jessica’s heart plummeted so far down it threatened to fall out of her asshole. “Only what you want it to mean.”

“Godric,” she said, heart lifting a little—her ego still kind of bruised. Jessica reminded herself that even as ancient as he was, Godric was still a man and therefore an idiot. “You just told me I’m your soulmate.”

“In a sense,” he said, a little flatly. His emotions were all fluttery, anxiety curling so deep and sharp she wanted to vomit.

“Dude,” she said, bringing a hand up to place it on his shoulder. “I only wish you mentioned it sooner so I didn’t have to stress for a month wondering if you liked me at all. So I wasn’t just pining. I literally let you bite me—I don’t know if I came across as easy or something, but I certainly wouldn’t have let Eric take a munch. You were kind of a one time deal.”

His face was impassive, but she could feel the twist of his stomach, the way his feelings metaphorically said ‘oh’. “I thought we established this all earlier,” she continued. “I like you, you like me. We are kind of boyfriend-girlfriend, but that feels not correct since your like, old and I’m basically a fetus.”

“Mates,” he said. “That is what others will call us.”

Jessica smiled, fangs and all. “So, vampire married?” she held up her pinky.

He grabbed it with his own, something light dancing across his features. She felt it zap across her skin when his finger twined with hers, curling and settling in her skin. “Vampire married,” he agreed easily.

There was a look in his eye, something kind of dark. She’d seen it before, when he drank her blood and when she’d painted his nails. She cleared her throat, her heart in her throat now—despite being still now, it seemed to move around a lot—standing, she moved to grab her bag.

“I should make a playlist,” she was saying. Godric stood too. He hadn’t showered yet, dirt still in his hair and on his face. Her blood still stained his white shirt. “You know, since we got married and I missed it.”

They’d never kissed before. Jessica felt acutely aware of this as Godric stood in front of her. He smelled delicious. Jessica wanted to drink his blood and feel him everywhere. She took a step backwards, hitting the dresser. He inhaled slowly, and suddenly, he was in front of her.

He didn’t touch her, his hands placed on the dresser. His gaze was intense. Jessica did what she did best.

She talked.

“I’m gonna add Billy Idol and the Velvet Underground, it’ll be good,” she promised, carefully avoiding eye contact. “It’ll be the best playlist ever—like, totally our wedding playlist and Eric will be really jealous that I put all the good songs on this one and not the one I said I’d make for him and—“

“—Jessica,” he said softly. Her eyes snapped to his. “I want to taste you.”

She swallowed. “Um,” she said smartly. “Is that an innuendo?”

He smiled a little, bringing a hand up to push a curl from her face. It sprang back from behind her ear almost immediately. She shifted her weight, rubbing her arm. “If you want it to be,” he said. “I will take whatever you will give me.”

Jessica’s mind shut down. Like when a Window’s computer shut off and made the power down noise. Her mind blanked. Numbly, she brought a finger to her lips. Her eyes were wide as they met his, and she leaned into him a little.

“Here,” she managed. He surged forward, connecting their lips in a swift motion. Her eyes were wide, staring at his face as he ran his tongue over her lips. She gasped, her eyes closing. He took the opportunity to swirl his tongue around her mouth, keeping true to his promise of tasting her.

Jessica bit his tongue. His blood filled her mouth. It was different from when she was human. Before, it had been rich—but now it was different. The taste hadn’t changed much necessarily, but before it hadn’t made her stomach roll and things happen. She pressed her knees together.

He broke the skin on her lip, sucking on it. She nearly cried. Just as quickly as he’d kissed her, he pulled away. Her fingers had buried themselves in the wood of the dresser, causing minor fractures in the wood. Godric said, “I apologize.”

“What?” she said, breathless. Which, what? She was literally a vampire and didn’t need to breathe—

—“I do not want to push you,” he said.

Jessica rolled her eyes, grabbing his grimy, bloody shirt in a fist and tugging him close to her. This time, she kissed him. It was a lot less gentle, and his hands found there way to her sides, and in moments he had them across the room. She turned her head, looking at him and then the bedspread underneath her.

“Is this okay?” he asked. For an absurd, absolutely hilarious, borderline delirious moment, she wondered if he was a virgin.

Something must have shown on her face, or her emotions weren’t as far from her as his were from him, but a little smile crossed his face. “I like your hair,” he said.

Jessica didn’t know why she bothered to be bewildered at Godric’s sudden, and frankly random revelations anymore. Still. “My hair?” she repeated, bringing a hand up to grab a curl.

“It is… exciting,” he said. Abruptly, Jessica decided that she wanted to lick him. She leaned forward, licking his cheek. When she pulled back, he was looking at her, something pleased curling in his chest and spring boarding back at her and to him again.

“Sorry,” she whispered, not really feeling sorry at all. She was a little lost in his feelings—her feelings now too. “You taste good.”

She didn’t say that she wanted to peel his skin off and wear it. That was a bizarre urge that she frankly didn’t want to look into too much. Like when you see a really cute puppy and feel the insane urge to throttle it.

In a swift movement, his shirt was gone. Jessica’s curls were damp still, her hoodie wet in the places it had touched. His skin was pale, blemish free, and she carefully brought a hand up to trace the tattoos.

“Did they hurt?”

“I don’t remember,” he said. He was looking at her—the way she’d see guys look at Lauren, how Lauren would look at them back. Like she was something to eat, something he wanted to breathe in and exhale forever. Or just for a little.

“Could I get one?” she wondered.

“It would heal too quickly,” said Godric. “The ink wouldn’t remain. We stay as we were in life.”

Oh.

“Does that go for everything?” she asked quietly.

He titled his head a little, watching her face. She said, “The way I felt. Will that stay?”

“Yes,” he said. He slipped a hand beneath her hoodie, his hand pressed against her stomach. The temperature didn’t bother her, they felt the same now. He felt almost warm.

She exhaled through her nose, sitting up. Their faces were so close together, their breath mingling. “Okay,” she said.

She took off her hoodie. Godric’s hand was still under her tank top, pressed against her bare skin.

When Jessica was sixteen and dating Mike Newton, they’d skipped gym class one day and made out under the bleachers. Mike’s hand had made it all the way under her shirt, copping a feel under her sports bra. She remembered feeling squished, her breast pinched and her skin pulled at weird angles as his sweaty hand had dragged across her skin.

A year later, she’d lost her virginity at a frat party in Seattle. That had been worse—pressed against a bathroom door while loud, hipster wannabe music blared in her ear. It hadn’t hurt, not like some girls said it did—just, felt weird. She was sore after, raw. She’d stumbled out, wobbly and damp and in need of a shower. Her companion had proceeded to get shitfaced and puke over the balcony. Lauren had passed out on the couch, and Jessica had her first drink too.

That had been a night of a lot of firsts.

This was totally different.

Jessica didn’t have a heart beat anymore, so her pulse wasn’t racing. But she felt Godric’s arousal just as intensely as she felt her own. The relationship between a maker and their childe was profound, Jessica was learning. She didn’t know if this was just that, or if it was something else.

“Is this because you made me?” she asked, voice barely audible.

Godric leaned forward, pressing his nose against her cheek as he inhaled. “No,” he murmured. “This is stronger.”

Jessica relaxed in his grip, letting him kiss her again. He’d know better then her.

Her skin burned where he touched her, in a good way. His fingers finding the waistband of her shorts, he paused briefly, looking at her. She bobbed her head up and down, shimmying a little to help him take off her pants.

It happened very quickly from there. He hovered over her, their faces close together. His lips parted, and she was pleased to see his fangs. She drew a hand up, touching her finger to his fangs.

“Fangtastic,” she punned as her skin broke. Godric looked at her fondly, licking her finger. He buried his face in her neck, biting her gently. Something coiled in her lower stomach, and she bit him back.

She burned all over. His hands were everywhere, and Jessica felt like she couldn’t get close enough to him. She pressed against him, drinking deeply. After a moment, he pulled back.

“Careful,” he said gently, affectionately. “Blood is sacred.”

He’d said that before. She wanted to pick apart what he meant, to ask him all sorts of questions. Later, she decided, feeling a little urgent.

She pawed at his pants, moving to sit up. He leaned back as she did so, winding his arms around her to pull her close. She kissed him, tasting her own blood in his mouth. She could have sworn her heart palpitated.

She moaned a little, a breathy thing that sent a jolt of electricity down her body. That feeling wasn’t hers. She smirked, scooting forward. “Well?” she asked, unsure of where the confidence was coming from. “Fuck me, Fangboy.”

He did.

.

ERIC

.

Jessica was staring at him. Her face was pinched into a tight frown, her nose crinkled. He sighed.

“Do you need something?” he finally asked.

Jessica threw her hands up. “You are impossible.”

Eric wasn’t aware he was doing anything at all to warrant such irritation. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, not looking up from his phone. Pam’s update about Fangtasia, followed by a detailed account of everything she’d buy if he didn’t hurry up already—Jessica was not the most pressing matter.
“Oh?” he hummed, utterly disinterested. Godric had swanned off at some point, probably to feed. Admittedly, it was a little odd he’d ditched Jessica with Eric—but it also wasn’t the first time he’d left them alone together.

Sibling bonding, or some nonsense.

“I can’t figure it out,” she looked so put out he actually set his phone down. He gestured for her to continue. She perked up, snapping her fingers and pointing at him. “Bob Dylan.”

Jessica officially had his full attention. “Excuse me?”

She visibly deflated. If Eric hadn’t felt the echoes of it himself, he literally never would have guessed that such an animated individual was the perfect match to his rather stoic creator. “You like Bob Dylan,” she sounded very sure of this.

“Do I?” he asked.

Jessica squinted. Her lips pursed. “Fuck.”

Eric turned his attention back to his phone. Jessica continued, “Godric was easier to figure out then you. Dude is a total cowboy. His favorite song is Southern Nights.”

Eric hummed.

“I keep going between straight up death metal to folk music for you,” complained Jessica. “You totally wouldn’t listen to Bob Dylan. Well. Hold on.”

Jessica was out of the room in and returning in seconds. She held a CD in her hands, standing before him. She looked at him rather pointedly.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” he asked, not bothering to hide his disinterested. Her brow furrowed a little.

“I, uh,” she shifted in place a little, looking uncertain. “I think you’ll find it useful? It’s kind of gothy. You know, Siouxsie Sioux, Morrissey—you know. Vampy vibes. Ghost is on here too. The Weezer of Goth.”

He frowned. “Why?”

She shrugged. “Not sure. I feel like it’ll work for you.”

And that was that. Jessica walked over to her seat again, turning on it sideways so her legs dangled over the arm. She pulled out her CD player, plopping in a CD and putting her headphones on. She then pulled out a notebook covered in stickers, a sparkly blue pen, and started wiring. Eric was just thankful for the silence.

It didn’t last.

Jessica, either incapable or unwilling to remain silent, sighed dramatically. Eric looked upward, resisting the urge to pray. Godric would be very upset, he reminded himself.

Jessica sighed again. This time, when he spared a glance at her, she was staring at him rather pointedly.

“What?” he demanded.

“I’m thirsty,” she said, sounding a little embarrassed.

Fair enough. Aside from a measly cup, and Godric’s blood, Jessica hadn’t actually had the chance to feed properly. Eric was confident in her ability to prevent her from murdering someone unintentionally or otherwise. Jessica struck him as a bit sadistic in feeding habits. He’d seen her eat as a human.

Eric stood. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s find you a human.”

“Human?” squeaked Jessica, popping up beside him. She titled her head upwards to make eye contact with him.

“You’re the one that insisted on befriending vampires,” he told her.

“First of all,” snarked Jessica immediately. “That was one vampire—and he was tied up at the time.”

“Yet you insist he could have murdered you,” quipped Eric. Jessica scowled.

“Only because you were being an ass,” said Jessica.

Eric opened his mouth to respond.

“Jessica Stanley?” an utterly bewildered voice rang out from beside her.

Jessica turned, blinking. Her mouth fell open.

“Oh my god,” she muttered, something akin to horror on her face. Eric glanced between her and the pie of vampires. The girl, the one that had just said her name, was somehow shorter then Jessica was even. Her hair was cropped short, and while he didn’t recognize her—he did recognize her companion.

“Jasper,” said Eric, feeling a little surprised. “Didn’t realize you’d left Mexico.”

Jasper Whitlock shrugged, a wry grin crossing his features. “Just passin’ through.”

“Oh?” said Eric.

“Yes,” he affirmed. “This is my childe, Alice.”

Eric glanced at her. Alice was standing there, looking like something a runway had just barfed up. She was rocking back and forth, buzzing in excitement. “How do you know Jess?”

Jessica was pressed against his side, her eyes narrowed and face pinched into a scowl. “Alice took a few friends shopping when I was in high school.”

“I knew it!” cheered Alice excitedly, her hand gripping the arm of the stoic vampire beside her.

Jessica exhaled slowly, muttering to Eric out of the corner of her mouth, “You can go ahead and let me die now.”

“Not a chance.” Eric, admittedly, was positively delighted at Jessica’s obvious torment. Jasper wasn’t overtly dangerous outside of his bitch of a maker—if she wasn’t around, he was generally quite placid.

She hissed at him, her face pulling back into a snarl as she whacked his arm. “Aren’t you supposed to like, have soft feelings for me, or something? What’s with this betrayal, huh? Buddy?”

“I want you alive,” said Eric. “Beyond that I’ll delight in anything that has you so frustrated.”

Jessica’s fingers dig into his arm. Through gritted teeth, she said, “If I’m going down so are you.”

“Bella Swan,” agreed Alice. To Jasper, she said, “Remember? She was the human girl Edward claimed.”

Jessica’s face twisted in a fascinating way. Alice clapped her hands together excitedly, squealing a little. “I didn’t know you were a vampire now. Is this your maker?”

Jessica forced some air through her nose, putting on a stiff smile. “No,” she said. “This is Eric. He’s my master’s first childe.”

Alice glanced at him, her eyes a little glassy and her smile a little funny for a moment. She faltered slightly, her smile weakening a little. “It’s nice to meet you, Eric. Good to see you, Jessica. We’ll catch up later, okay? Jasper and I need to go present ourselves to the Sheriff.”

Jessica watched them leave with a bewildered sort of terror curling in her chest, the feeling so consuming Eric’s fingers twitched. Once she was satisfied they were out of earshot, she told Eric, “I ran into her in High school when I was friends with Bella. She went shopping with us.”

Jessica felt her gaze unfocus a little, lost in memory. Eric waved a hand in front of her face, and she started, shaking her head as she shuttered a little. “Never again.”

Eric rolled his eyes. She couldn’t be that bad.

.

JESSICA

.

Godric wasn’t hard to find—but Jessica’s fairly certain her uncanny ability to hone in on him was cheating. Eric too, but Jessica would classify him as a dirty cheater irregardless of how he located their shared maker, never mind that she still beat him. He was sitting on a couch in the hotel lobby, chatting politely with a rather stoic Jasper, while Alice babbled.

Eric was still a bit hung up on the Alice thing. Jessica certainly wasn’t. It was Eric. Eric also found the whole thing hilarious, the rotten traitor. It’s not like he had suffered under the chilling horror that is Alice Cullen and shopping. It was the stuff of nightmares, Jessica would have you know.

Also, Godric couldn’t drive, apparently.

Her romantic notion of a proper road trip was shattered in an instant.

“What do you mean he can’t drive?” she practically bellowed. Eric, the butthead, was totally not concerned with the absolute disaster of information he had just bestowed upon her. “He’s two thousand years old—how doesn’t he pick up driving? He was alive before cars.”

Eric’s mirth was infuriating, frankly—doubly so as he informed her quietly, “He didn’t want to learn how to read.”

Jessica had left to find him, stomping the whole way to him. She’d put her hands on her hips, and demanded loudly, interrupting whatever crap Alice was saying, “You never learned how to drive?”

His attention turned to her, and his eyes were a little wide as he took her in. Hesitantly, he confirmed, “I never saw a need.”

“A need?” she whined, throwing her hands up. “How about traveling?”

“I can fly,” he said. “And run faster then any vehicle.”

“You can fly an airplane but not drive a car,” she repeated, voice dull with her utter disbelief.

Godric didn’t say anything, just looked at her. Jessica actually gasped, like seriously, she gasped like it was a ridiculous Lifetime Movie and she just learned her husband is actually her dead twin brother.

“No fucking way,” she said. He looked smug. “Shut up. Seriously, are you fucking kidding me right now? You can fly.”

“Eric can too,” said Godric. “Pam can hover, it will get stronger as she grows older. It is a trait of our bloodline.”

Jessica practically vibrated in place. “Can I fly?”

His brow furrowed just slightly. “Can you?”

Jessica paused momentarily, before scrambling over the couch to stand next to where he was sitting. She jumped off the back of the couch, landing on her feet. Eric clapped mockingly from the doorway. “I think you fell a little slower then the average vampire,” he cooed.

She rolled her eyes. “Why does he get to fly but I don’t?”

“One of life’s great mysteries,” Godric deadpanned.

“Don’t change the subject,” Jessica said. “How are we getting to Forks?”

Alice Cullen chose that moment to remind Jessica of her presence. “Jazz and I are headed that way,” she said. “We can go together.”

Jessica couldn’t think of a polite way to say absolutely not. Apparently, Godric couldn’t either, because he was nodding in agreement.

This was officially the worst day ever.

.

Godric flipped through the CDs, carefully pulling one out and pressing play.

“Didn’t know you were an 80s fan,” said Jasper.

“Jessica likes ABBA,” said Godric, as though that explained everything. It did, actually. If she could have blushed, she totally would have. Godric was a total sap, and she kind of loved him for it.

Jasper, shockingly, had nothing to say. Alice said, “I know.”

Jessica resisted the urge to bash her head into the window. The car Eric had rented them wasn’t a car at all. He’d gotten a van, and Jessica was half certain it was purely to screw with her.

Oh, and Alice was coming. This, as a default, meant Jasper was too—but Jessica didn’t have any issues with Jasper, so it probably didn’t count.

Eric was totally screwing with her. The van didn’t get faster then 60mph without making a weird clicking noise, the AC was crap—and while everyone in the car was a vampire and that ultimately made no difference, Jessica was mad because it meant she couldn’t put on sad music and pretend she was in a music video and the wind was blowing her hair.

“Eric is such a dick,” she said finally into the silence.

Alice immediately said, “He grows on you.”

“Like a wart,” muttered Jessica darkly.

Godric was smiling a little, something amused curling in his chest and therefore Jessica’s. “It’s not funny,” she snapped.

Godric said, “You are more alike then you seem to think.”

Jessica made a face. Surprisingly, it was Jasper that spoke. “He cares for you, the same way you do him.”

Jessica said, “He feels vaguely homicidal toward me under the squishy feelings from Godric?”

“He finds you terribly irritating,” said Jasper placatingly. “He also can’t help it either.”

Alice affirmed this, saying with a sense of finality. “You and Eric become very close.”

“I’d rather eat a plate of garlic,” she mumbled. Her mind shifted to Sookie Stackhouse, almost against her will. Alice and Jasper kind of reminded her of bottle blonde Professor X. “Hey, you guys can’t read minds, can you?”

Alice laughed. “Of course not,” she said. Jessica immediately felt a sense of relief. “That’s Edward.”

Jessica spared Godric a glance of utter horror. “There’s more of them?”

“Telepathy isn’t uncommon,” he said, fiddling with the radio settings.

Jessica pressed herself against her seat. Her eyes narrowed. The AC thing was pissing her off. She stared out the window for a while, and felt something akin to overwhelming joy when she spotted the familiar little beaver.

She immediately took the exit.

“Buc-ees,” said Alice cryptically. Must’ve seen the street sign.

“I’m getting Godric a shirt,” she said.

“Naturally,” agreed Alice with a grin. Alice was the first person out of the car, and for an insane moment, Jessica was sixteen again with Bella Swan standing in a tiny department store in Port Angeles while Alice Cullen piled clothes upon clothes. She shook herself out of her stooper, and maybe grabbed onto Godric’s arm a little tighter then necessary.

“In and out,” she said. “We get you a shirt and then we leave.”

“Alice may not allow this,” replied Godric. “But I will aim to do as instructed.”

She had never loved a being so much as she did in that moment.

Jasper’s face was doing something funny, so to distract him from whatever that was, she said, “Buc-ees is the best thing about the South.”

“Can’t say I get the appeal,” he replied. Godric was careful to detach himself from Jessica, wandering over to the t-shirts. He looked a little lost, but he was a big boy so Jessica figured he would manage on his own for a little. “I was born before the Civil War.”

“Oh?” said Jessica, her attention more on Godric then anything else. He’d grabbed a neon pink shirt and had started to drift through the store—like a magpie. She didn’t need another Alice, who’s own pile of items was growing increasingly large. “Bet that was fun.”

“I don’t remember much,” said Jasper. “I ran away to join the army when I was 17.”

Jessica paused. “You fought in the Civil War?”

“Yes, I was the youngest major in the confederate army,” he said.

“You were a confederate soldier?” Jessica demanded, feeling distantly betrayed. Forget what she said about Jasper earlier, she certainly had a problem with him now.

“Yes,” he said, sounding infuriatingly neutral. Jessica was of the opinion it would have been better if he sounded just a smidge remorseful for being a racist in his human life.

“And this is something you’re proud of?” she asked despite herself, eyes narrowing.

Jasper seemed to be picking up the fury Jessica was putting down. So was Godric, but he was smart enough to pretend to be occupied with reading the back of an orange juice bottle. She loved him so much she was going to bit him. When Godric joined a war, it was usually for the shits and giggles, and because he had carried a general disregard for humans in general.

“Bill Compton was also a confederate soldier,” said Godric suddenly.

Jessica felt wildly vindicated. “Bill Compton is a pussy bitch.” under her breath, she asked, “Who?”

Godric’s eyes slide over to hers. “Sookie Stackhouse’s boyfriend.”

Oh. Him. Jessica wrinkled her nose, and said to Jasper, “You’re in poor company, is all I’m saying.”

She stomped over to the register, paying for Godric’s t-shirt and orange juice and dragging him back to the van.

That wouldn’t start.

Jessica considered vehicular homicide for when she next saw Eric Northman.

Chapter Text

.

GODRIC

.

The motel was by far among the more disgusting places he had entered within the last century. The area wasn’t particularly great either, and Jessica had looked particularly unsettled at the splotches on the bedspread. 

Alice was confident though, and as a result, so was everyone else. He couldn’t be certain if Jessica had picked up on Alice’s ability, but he wouldn’t put it passed her either. Jessica sat on the mattress, kicking off her shoes as she glanced around the room. Godric drifted over to the blackout curtains, carefully examining the material.

“Come here,” he said suddenly. Jessica was next to him in seconds. He held out the curtain for her to look at. “See?”

She nodded. Godric said, “The material needs to be thick enough to completely block out the sun. We’ll close the shutters too.”

“Would a blanket or something work?” she asked. “I have this Barbie blanket that would probably work.”

Eric was probably right about Jessica, Godric could admit. Despite himself, he found her fascinating. Jessica was exhilarating. Her feelings bleed into his, and he found himself perhaps more excited then he otherwise would have been. “How thick is it?”

Jessica held her fingers apart. “It’s a comforter.”

Mirth was curling in her chest, something sinister glinting under the surface. Godric wondered if her blanket was pink—if she’d let him drink her blood on it. Jessica said, “I want to put it in Eric’s bedroom.”

“He would burn it,” said Godric immediately.

“Not if you tell him he can’t take it down,” said Jessica with a giggle. He wouldn’t actually do that, and Jessica knew he wouldn’t, but he liked the way her smile was wide and her teeth were pearly white. Her lips were soft, too. 

“He would have Pam remove it,” said Godric, moving closer to her. 

“Pam would do no such thing,” said Jessica with the certainty of taxes, or perhaps death—but somehow with the same promise. “I’d distract her.”

“Oh?” he prodded, curious about her mind. Even with her feelings bubbling up against his own, her thoughts remained a mystery. 

“I’d like to think so,” she continued. “I’m a good judge of character.”

“You’ve never met Pam,” he said. 

“Another tally against Eric,” she said dispassionately. She was unable to truly fool him, the slight twitch of her lips and the emotions that bubbled around her were contagious. Jessica moves over to her bag, pulling out her CD player. “I made that playlist.”

He raised an eyebrow. “The one to spite Eric?”

She tilted her head and pursed her lips—if she was still human, he was positive she would have blushed. “It’s mostly for us. For our vampire marriage.”

“Of course,” he agreed. “We did get vampire married.” He enjoyed the way her emotions swirled up against his, her face displaying the feelings. He didn’t think she was particularly difficult to read, but he liked that about her. Jessica was rather open with her feelings, and vocal about her thoughts. He still wondered how she arrived at particular conclusions. 

“Anyway,” she said, sounding a little flustered. She was picking at her cuticles, the CD player in her lap. She grabbed the headphones, offering them to him. “Do you want to listen to it?”

He smiled, moving to sit beside her. Jessica carefully arranged the headphones, pressing her ear close to his so she could listen too. She pressed play. 

As the first song ended, he asked, “What are you thinking?”

“I keep thinking about Eric,” she finally said. “I think we should stay with him.”

Godric stared at her, distantly wondering where that had come from. She sensed his confusion, because she went on to hastily explain, “I keep thinking about you and him together. Not like, together together, but like, in the same area? I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to explain. I just think once we are done in Washington we should go back to him.”

“I had planned on it,” he said slowly, studying her features. Jessica wasn’t giving much away, and he could sense her discomfort so he let it drop. “Eric will be pleased.”

“Oh?” she said with poorly feigned indifference.

“He likes you,” Godric told her, enjoying the way her face twisted at the news. 

“No he doesn’t,” she denied immediately. “He was totally rooting for me to get sacrificed at the church.”

“I’ve known Eric for over a thousand years,” said Godric dryly. “If he wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”

Jessica had the gall to pout. “Tell that to Nan Flanagan.”

“It’s a work in progress,” he acknowledged. She smiled, leaning against him. She rested her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. The curl sprang back into place almost immediately. “It’s nearly dawn.”

“Yuck,” said Jessica. “Who knew immortality would involve so much dying?”

“There’s a certain irony to it,” he agreed. Jessica scooted back on the mattress, resting her head on the pillow. He laid beside her, turning to watch her face.

“What?” she asked, a little grin on her face.

“Nothing,” he said quickly. 

.

JESSICA

.

The car turned on.

Jessica winced. Godric’s face twitched so minutely, that even without the bubbling mirth in her chest that was his, she would have clocked the almost smile. 

“Traitor,” she mumbled, bringing her hand up to quickly change the track. 

The car was dangerously silent for a moment, before Jasper asked, rather tentatively, “Was that Inspector Gadget?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Jessica, knuckles white from her grip on the steering wheel. “And I’m not in the mood to take criticism from a confederate.”

Wisely, Jasper chose to not respond.

They made it around the block before the car died again. Jessica was contemplating a tragic murder-suicide. A murder-suicide that involves less suicide and more murder. Where she runs over Eric with the car. Repeatedly. Until he was dead. She might throw Jasper into the pyre too, while she’s at it.

Alice said, “We can get a new car.”

Godric made a face, apparently sensing Jessica’s increasingly poor mood. “I’d rather travel on foot,” he said. “It would be faster.”

Jessica whipped her head around to glare. “Nobody told me that was an option!”

Godric, as per usual, had neglected to share that option with her. He did that a lot, she noticed. She wasn’t sure if he expected her to know what he was thinking, or if even being old as dust didn’t improve on one’s faults.

“Dude,” she complained, getting out of the car. Godric didn’t bother responding, instead grabbing her backpack. Alice was pouting, but Jasper looked something close to relieved. 

After it became clear that they would be traveling separately, Jessica perked up immensely. “Lead the way, o’Master thy master.”

Alice might have thrown sparkles—Jessica wasn’t sure if the sparkly aura around her was just Alice’s bizarre personality infringing itself on the laws of physics and manifesting outwardly, or if she had just thrown a fistful of glitter in the air and had a sakura pink backdrop conveniently on hand. 

Since neither Jasper nor Jessica’s maker seemed remotely phased—not that that actually meant anything for Godric considering he seemed content to let her have random notions and made no attempt to dissuade them or elaborate on his observations—Jessica decided she was probably just hallucinating due to overexposure. In other words, it seemed more likely

Jessica was just OD’ing on Alice’s excessive personality.

“Oh Jessica,” she was saying, eyes shining. She grabbed Jessica’s hands in hers. Jessica looked in Godric’s direction out of the corner of her eye. She felt a little betrayed to see Godric was watching the scene impassively.

Traitor.

“I’ll miss you,” she was saying. “We’ve become such good friends in such a short time and—oh!” 

Alice was totally delusional. That was literally the only option. Jessica had said a grand total of perhaps ten sentences to Alice in the trip from hell. Most of the conversation was one sided blabbering as she attempted to find the fastest route. 

“—I’m so excited!” Alice burst out suddenly. “We are going to have so much fun together!” 

Jessica was smart enough to read between the lines. Alice would have a blast in Forks. Jessica would need to further her plan of vehicular homicide for when she saw Eric next. It seemed the car might be too simple of a method for murder. 

They left awkwardly, and Jessica was left on the side of the road with her maker. 

“Holy crap she’s annoying,” Jessica immediately complained once they were out of earshot. “Can vampires do drugs? I think she’s on something. It’s unreal.”

“If a human was intoxicated, it could transfer. But it usually just tastes unpleasant,” said Godric. 

“Bummer,” said Jessica. “Anyway, let’s ditch this popsicle stand. If we are lucky we can beat them and have five minutes of peace.”

“And miss the fun you and Alice will have?” Godric asked coyly. Jessica narrowed her eyes at him, making a mental note to kill him after she killed Eric. Dirty, rotten traitors.

.

They got all the way to California before Jessica was too hungry to continue. The one positive of traveling on foot, Jessica quickly learned, was that Godric gave a good piggy back ride. He travelled lightly, and aside from Jessica’s bag, they didn’t have anything else on them. Godric had abandoned his shoes at some point in their run, and his feet were muddy and his hair windswept.

Jessica wanted to drink his blood and die in his arms. Her hair was wild, making it clear they’d been traveling on foot from the random leaves that have found their way to it. She leaves it alone (haha), enjoying the way Godric’s eyes trail over her. 

Godric led them to a house—if it could be called that. It looks more like a hotel, with large doors and a lot of floors. The windows are small and dark, but Jessica could tell there were lights on inside and heard humans and vampires alike moving around. 

“We must present ourselves,” he said to her. His hand was clasped in hers tightly, and Jessica wasn’t sure if it was to comfort him or her more.

“We aren’t staying for more then a night,” she said. 

“It’s polite,” said Godric. “And we are feeding.”

Jessica bobbed her head, allowing her maker to take charge. He knocked, and the door swung open quickly. A human girl had answered. Her hair was long and dark, falling in loose waves around her shoulders. Her makeup made her resemble a raccoon, and Jessica wanted to eat her. 

Her mouth watered. She twitched. Godric’s hand tightened around hers. “Hello,” he greeted politely. “We have come to present ourselves.”

The girl with raccoon eyes looked at them, her eyes vacant and expression bored. She stepped to the side, allowing them entrance. The vampires in the room all paused as Godric walked by, making a beeline for the Sheriff. 

“Why are they staring?” she whispered, desperately aware they could all hear her and unable to care. 

“He’s the oldest thing in here,” said a vampire from a chair in the living room. He was older then her obviously, which wasn’t hard as Jessica was still considered a newborn—but he was at least 300. 

“Hello,” said Godric. 

“Godric,” greeted the vampire. “Long time.”

“World War II,” agreed Godric. “This is Jessica, my childe. Jessica, this is Garrett.”

“Hello,” she said nervously. 

“Don’t be shy,” said Garrett. Jessica decided he was a salacious twerp.

“You can’t tell me you don’t bite,” quipped Jessica. The look on Godric’s face resembled something Eric would make—she tried not to take offense. She continued blithely, “So, Garrett, if that is your actual name—“

Godric had the presence of mind to cut her off then. “We are going to Washington.”

Garrett appeared intrigued. “Mainstreaming? I hadn’t taken you for the type.”

“Jessica wanted to visit,” he said.

“Ah,” said Garrett. “You’ve met the Cullen’s?”

Jessica valiantly resisted the urge to shudder. She glared at Garrett out of the corner of her eye, asking warily, “What are your thoughts on the Confederacy?”

Garrett laughed, and any remaining tension seemed to leave the room completely. “I see you met Jasper. Charming fellow.”

“He’s a true peach,” she told him blandly. 

Garrett laughed, resting a hand on Godric’s shoulder he said, “I like this one.”

Sensing where the conversation was going, and ready to make any jab at Eric she could, Jessica chimed in, “Eh, Ragnar Lothbrok isn’t that bad.”

Garrett looked delighted, Godric spared her a special smile—the gentle sort. Indulgent and fond. 

.

GODRIC

.

Seattle arrived too soon. Their time alone was coming to a rapid close, and it would be officially over before dawn. He half wondered if he could convince her to be buried with him for the day. 

There was something particularly addicting about her—in a way past lovers had not been. Godric found himself mesmerized by her, by the feel of her emotions against his. He’d had lovers before, of course, but this, with Jessica, was more of a religious experience.

The simplest of things, the way she delighted at the fireflies or the way she turned her face toward the wind as she ran—it was nice letting her feelings consume him.

“Look,” said Jess, all smiles and teeth. She had a habit of leaving her fangs out. Her hair was wild, her feet bare, her jean shorts were covered in a layer of dirt from their running. Her hoodie was more salvageable but was quickly growing wet with raindrops. Jessica smelled like rain and the forest and so incandescently her. 

“Think we can make it all the way?” she asked, her hair was growing wet, and he grabbed her hand and led her underneath an awning to stay out of the rain. She looked lovely. 

“We can,” he said. “Before we return to Eric, where will we go after?”

“After this?” she asked, a little smile tugging at her lips. She smiled to freely, so easily. Things with Jessica were simple. Easy. He nodded. Jessica said, “Everywhere.”

.

JESSICA

They made it to Forks just before the dawn. The Cullen’s were easy to find, the path leading up to their home covered in gravel. Godric’s steps were sure, and precise. He looked infinitely more put together then she did. Her hair was damp, the curls more frizzy then curly. She was hungry, and tired. Her master was setting a quick pace, clearly trying to outrun the dawn. 

The door swung open before they could so much as knock. A pale, beautiful woman opened the door. Her hair was gold, her eyes a shocking shade of blue—Jessica knew that vampire blood objectively made people more aesthetically pleasing to look at. It smoothed over imperfections like acne, made eyes brighter and hair a little nicer. 

This must have been something else. Her movements were graceful, the way her hair fell was graceful. She was so overwhelmingly beautiful Jessica wanted to cry—and then it evaporated in a single instant. She was still beautiful, but the desperate pull toward her fizzled and popped like a bubble bursting. 

“Welcome,” she greeted, her voice strained as she put on a forced smile. “Carlisle, you have guests.”

“We are here to present ourselves,” said Godric. 

“Of course,” said the vampiress, stepping aside to allow them entrance. 

Jessica found herself settled on the couch several moments later, the Sheriff sitting in front of her and Godric. 

“Godric,” greeted the sheriff—Carlisle. Jessica knew him, vaguely. She didn’t think her initial thoughts as a human were altogether incorrect, Carlisle had something about him that reminded her of Steve Newlin. 

She didn’t like it. 

“It’s a pleasure to see you again,” continued Carlisle. “I heard you were in Texas.”

Her gaze swiveled around the room as Godric explained he had retired. There were several vampires that had entered beyond Carlisle. The one that had answered the door now stood by the window, peering out at the rain. Next to Carlisle, a caramel blonde vampire sat primly beside him. She had a roundness to her that Jessica hadn’t seen in a vampire before—most vampires were all angles and sharp lines. Across the room, by the piano, sat a bronze haired vampire. Jessica recognized him instantly of course, and felt particularly unsettled at the sight of Edward Cullen.

Carlisle caught her glancing around the room. “My apologies, I should introduce my family. My wife, Esme—our children, Rosalie and Edward.”

Jessica stared. Godric was much more tactful then her, responding quickly, “Pleasure. I am Godric, this is my progeny Jessica.”

“Welcome to Forks, Jessica,” said Esme kindly. “Are you planning on staying long?”

The door swung open before she could think to respond. Jessica’s head turned, her fangs popping out. Wordlessly, she turned to her maker, burying her face in his neck. 

“She smells very nice,” she murmured. 

“She is B-,” supplied Godric as an explanation. To Carlisle, he explained placidly, “Her favorite.”

Carlisle smiled politely. “Edward’s too.”

“Edward?” stuttered the human, her brown eyes wide with fear. 

“Come, Bella,” said Edward carefully. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Jessica stilled, her mind whirling. No fucking way. She stared, watching Bella Swan walk out of the room. 

“No,” said Godric, standing. “My Jessica and I were just leaving. Sheriff, are there any rules for feeding in your area?”

Carlisle stood as well. “Please avoid anyone from town. We had an incident with some nomads several years back. It caused some issues with the local shifters in the area.”

“I understand,” said Godric politely. “We will do as requested.”

“Do you have any need for accommodation?” Esme inquired, standing as they did. 

“We had planned to bury ourselves,” said Jessica. 

Esme pulled a face. “Oh, that won’t do—“

Carlisle cut her off, saying gently, “Jessica is very young, my love. Bella is in the house.”

She resented the assessment that she wouldn’t be able to handle herself. Godric wouldn’t let her eat someone else’s human. That was rude.

.

Jessica insisted they stop by Lauren’s. She’d totally ignored her for too long, and even as a vampire, Jessica was fiercely loyal. 

Jessica’s the one that leads the way, bouncing on her heels and rubbing her arm as the doorbell echoes. 

Lauren answered—not her mom, thankfully. Jessica beamed at her. Lauren’s eyes widened, and she threw a vase at Jessica. Jessica watched in bemused horror as the vase sailed by her face, shattering on the porch.

“Hey!” she protested. “Lauren—what the fuck—“

—oh fuck. Her phone. 

She totally forgot about that. 

Lauren screeched, yanking her shoe off and lugging it in Jessica’s direction. It hit her mom’s car, setting off the alarm. Jessica said, “Hey!”

“Jess, what the fuck!?” shouted Lauren. “I thought you were fucking dead!” 

Lauren pointed at Godric accusingly. “I thought you ate her!”

Jessica said, “Well, he did. Kind of.”

Lauren’s face twisted, and she looked vaguely disgusted. She brought a hand up to her head, groaning in frustration. “You aren’t allowed to just disappear like that, Jessica Stanley.”

“I’m sorry,” said Jessica, really meaning it. “My phone started ringing at a really bad moment, and I had no choice.”

“What could have possible been so bad that you had to ditch your phone?” demanded Lauren.

Godric spoke for the first time. “She broke it.”

Lauren blinked. “Excuse me?”

“She broke it,” he reaffirmed. “Her ringtone embarrassed her.”

Lauren looked ready to commit a crime, so Jessica hastily explained, “It was Rhinestone Cowboy, Buffalo Bill had just walked in, Eric was imitating Aslan right before the White Witch sacrifices him, and Dollar General David Koresh was about to murder us all!”

“What are you even saying right now?” Lauren nearly wailed. She turned her attention to Godric, waving her hand at him a little desperately. “Please, elaborate.”

“Jessica fell on her phone and was unable to silence it. My underling arrived as Mr. Newlin attempted to sacrifice Jessica and Eric, as well as his human,” Godric was calm in his explanation. Lauren looked particularly pale, her face ending up buried in her hands toward the end of his explanation. 

She rubbed her face. “Jess, why don’t you just say that?” 

Jessica threw her hands in the air in exasperation. “I did! Godric, buddy, back me up here.”

Godric, the fucking nerd, did not back her up. His gaze slide over to her, and Jessica resisted the urge to throttle him. He reminded her of Eric, for just a moment—but the moment is strong enough that she scowled at him and told Lauren, “Stop throwing shit at me and invite me in.”

“I can’t,” said Lauren immediately. Her cheeks burned red, and she looked faintly embarrassed.

“Why not?” demanded Jess. 

“She’s been compelled not too,” said Godric.

Jessica sighed. Naturally. 

“So, what do we do now?” Jessica asked. Lauren smiled.

“I can take you to meet her,” she said. 

Jessica, who was a vampire, didn’t think this was a great idea. But Godric, her maker, had apparently lost all of his marbles in his old age and seemed to think this was an excellent idea. Lauren beamed at him, running inside to grab her keys.

“Dude,” complained Jessica. “I don’t want to go to some skanky vampire’s nest.”

“Lauren is her human,” said Godric. “She’ll be territorial toward any other vampire she thinks is overstepping. It’s best that you introduce yourself and explain you were friends in life if you wish to continue contact.”

Jessica deflated. He was right, and she hated when he was right. Jessica sighed, letting Lauren loop their arms together as she bounced to her car. 

Well, decided Jessica, it could be worse.

.

She officially had a knack for jinxing herself. Like, seriously, she thinks she might have a special ability that involves screwing herself over with words alone.

“What’s this?” Lauren asked. Jessica glanced over. 

“Oh, that’s the playlist I made for Godric when I found out we were vampire married.” she explained distractedly.

“You put Pink Triangle on a playlist about your marriage to a man?” Lauren asked after a long pause. Jessica rubbed her arm awkwardly. 

“I got a little carried away,” she admitted. “I started just putting songs I like on there.”

“Jess,” said Lauren, laugh in her voice. “Did you seriously put a Black Sabbath song on here?”

“Hey,” she defended immediately. “Black Sabbath is awesome. I won’t hear any slander. Also, it’s just not like, doom and gloom.”

“It’s a song about a divorce,” said Lauren patiently.

“It’s amazing, so my point stands,” said Jessica. 

Lauren rolled her eyes. “Well, it doesn’t make much of a difference now. We can’t exactly listen to it on the way.”

Jessica pouted, looking over at Godric. When the car wouldn’t start, Lauren had opted to just go ahead and call her vampire directly. As it turned out, Victoria didn’t particularly care that Lauren invite them inside so long as neither of them snacked on her. 

As if. 

Lauren had then invited her over, explaining that her vampire bestie should meet her vampire. Or something. Jessica didn’t particularly care—she mostly wanted to get it over with so she could goad Godric into going to the local vampire bar in Seattle. They’d have to leave soon if they wanted to make it long enough to find a person to drink.

Godric had wandered over to the frames pictures on the wall. The Mallory household had a particularly large family portrait hung over the fireplace, but the rest of the house had more personal images. Godric’s interest in them felt passive, distant—Jessica thought that outside of Lauren’s connection to Jessica, he had no real interest in any of this. 

She adored him. 

With little else to do, Lauren was rummaging around Jessica’s bag and judging her personal items. She was worse then Eric. At least he had the decency to keep his comments shallow. 

Lauren looked up suddenly, a smile stretching across her face as she stood and moved toward the door. It was weird seeing a bond from the outside. It was kind of like watching two magnets snap together after being yanked apart. Always aware, always waiting, and sucked together through a force neither of them could control.

Lauren opened the door. Jessica’s mouth dropped. Lauren’s vampire was the kind of pretty that you only really heard about secondhand. Her eyes weren’t particularly big, but they were hooded and piercing—Victoria looked like she was seeing through you. Her nose was straight, and her lips were full, but her mouth was small. She looked like a particularly beautiful china doll, with porcelain skin and a shock of red curls that fell in perfect ringlets. 

“You must be Jessica,” said Victoria. Her eyes slid over to Godric. He waved.

Jessica turned to stare at him. “Dude,” she said, unable to contain her disbelief. 

He ignored her, but Jessica could feel his amusement. “I am Godric.”

Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Godric? I’ve heard of you. I didn’t realize you had created a new childe.”

“I’m likable,” she said. Supermodel Shirley temple grinned at that, showing her teeth. Suddenly, Jessica really, really wanted her to meet Eric. “Are you by chance against traveling to Louisiana?”

.

Bella Swan was a total freak in high school—from that perspective, nothing had changed. Jessica and Bella were still at opposing ends of a familiar issue, and Bella Swan was still painfully, strikingly human. 

Jessica swallowed. Yesterday, when she and Godric had stopped by to present themselves, Jessica hadn’t bothered to investigate the mouthwatering human who had wandered in. Now, she kind of wishes she had. 

Bella Swan was staring at her. She was very, very human. Jessica’s head tilted. 

“Why are you human?” she found herself asking. 

It was clear Bella didn’t know what to make of this—that a girl she was sort of friends with in high school had become a vampire before her. Bella stuttered, “Um.”

Alice said, “She won’t be for long.”

Bella spared her a thankful glance, but Jessica didn’t look away. Bella wasn’t a vampire right now, and Jessica wanted to know why. She remembered the way Edward had acted around her, his bizarre behavior making a lot more sense as a vampire herself. 

“So,” said Bella haltingly. “Jessica, I mean—you’re a vampire?”

Jess straightened a little, sparing a glance at her maker. Godric was engrossed in his conversation with Carlisle. Briefly, Jessica thought about introducing him to Skyrim. He’d like Paarthurnax—both of them would. Godric’s eyes met her briefly. His gaze softened.

Jessica cleared her throat and told Bella, “I was dying.”

Bella blinked, her brown eyes soulful and beautiful. Bella was beautiful. She always had been—Jessica remembered the way everyone had perked up at the sight of her, she was a delicate beauty, the kind that was quiet and crept up on you. 

Jessica exhaled slowly. She’d missed Bella Swan. The girl who had vanished in the middle of high school. For so long, Jessica had assumed Bella was dead or a vampire. It was jarring to see her cheeks pink and her pale face so alive. 

“Carlisle turned Esme when she was dying,” said Bella slowly. “Edward too.”

Jessica knew Carlisle had created Esme and Edward—the same way she’d known he’d sired Rosalie, and that Rosalie had sired Emmett. 

It was a vampire thing. They smelled the same. 

Rosalie was notably absent from the den, but Emmett lingered around Alice in a way that freaked Jessica out a little. The Cullen’s had been weird enough when she was a human—as a vampire herself, they unsettled her in a completely different way. 

“I know,” said Jessica. 

Bella’s lips parted, and before she could voice her question, Alice answered, “It’s the blood. Jessica can smell the ties we have.”

“My master is better at it,” said Jess, feeling awkward. Alice beamed, all sharp teeth. 

“You’ll catch up,” she assured, to Bella, Alice continued, “Jessica is special. She and Godric are mates.”

“Oh,” said Bella, lighting up a little. Her smile was sweet. “Me too. With Edward, I mean.”

Jessica paused. Emmett teased, “Belly and Eddie.”

“Okay,” agreed Jessica slowly. She glanced over to Godric, something curling in her stomach. He glanced over, and Jessica was beside him in seconds, winding their fingers together. She wasn’t an expert. She wasn’t—but she’s seen mates. She knew Jasper the confederate was Alice the irritating’s mate the same way she knew anyone who saw her and Godric knew too. 

She wasn’t totally convinced, basically. 

Godric said, “Excuse us, Jessica is thirsty.”

“I can get a TruBlood for her,” volunteered Bella politely. “There’s plenty in the refrigerator.”

“You all mainstream?” Jessica inquired, looking between Emmett and Carlisle. Carlisle’s smile was brittle.

“We prefer the term vegetarian,” he said. “Before TrueBlood, we fed from animals.”

Weirdly, Jessica was reminded of Winston Churchill. She blinked a few times, turning to Godric, she informed the room at large, “Thanks for the offer. I’m gonna go drink Godric’s blood.”

“Jessica,” chastised Godric. She rolled her eyes.

“What?” she complained. There was no reason to lie to a room full of vampires. It wasn’t uncommon to drink from your maker. Jessica wasn’t experiencing a paraphilia—no matter how Bella’s eyes bugged out, and she looked throughly disgusted. “It’s natural.”

Emmett says easily, “Bella is a little squeamish.” 

Frankly, Jessica had nothing to say to that. She pursed her lips, looking rather pointedly at Carlisle. He cleared his throat, and politely led them to a room. She didn’t bother to wait for the door to close, latching onto her maker. They fed off each other for awhile, and when Jessica pulled back, her lips were bloody and her head was a lot clearer. Into the silence, she asked her maker, “It’s not true, is it? What Bella said about her and Edward?”

“No,” he says. “It’s not. I don’t believe the human knows.”

Jessica looked down, shifting on her feet, nodding slowly. She wasn’t totally sure what to do with this information. “Should I tell her?”

Godric watched her with dark eyes, and she’s not surprised when his feelings change to something sweeter. His feelings for her wrap around her gently, like a warm blanket fresh from the dryer. Jessica leans into the sensation, closing her eyes. Godric tells her kindly, “She may not accept what you say as truth.”

She sighs, eyes sliding to the door. For all her complicated feelings toward Bella, she didn’t want the girl stuck in a relationship built on a lie. “I’ll be back in a little,” she says simply. “You go talk to Carlisle. I’m sure Eric longs for my presence already.”

“The night isn’t the same without you,” says Godric placidly. She grins at him, bumping his shoulder with hers. She sort of loves him. Like a lot. She wants that for Bella—Lauren too, even Angela. 

She thinks everyone deserves to love. 

“Victoria seemed interested,” she giggles. “You think we’ll have our very own Red Lady?”

“We can certainly dream,” Godric deadpans. His eyes never leave her. 

.

GODRIC

.

Parting with Jessica was never easy—even if she was only going to another room. She flounced away, her steps graceful. Her hair bounces with every step, and Godric tilted his head as she drifted down the hall to where Bella sat, her heartbeat the only real sound in the den.

Godric waited until he could hear Jessica’s voice, her feelings of resolve helping him to straighten his shoulders as he made his way to Carlisle. Jessica would deal with Bella.

It was only fair that he assist with Carlisle. Edward himself was beyond Godric, and in truth, he wanted little to do with him.

Jessica had plainly described Edward Cullen as “a total whacko” and Godric had been foolish enough to think she was exaggerating. 

She wasn’t. 

He knocked on the door gently, waiting silently for Carlisle to grant permission to enter. He opened the door with a click, finding Carlisle sat at a desk, paper spread before him. 

“I apologize for the intrusion,” said Godric. “My Jessica is speaking with Miss Swan now. I believed it best if I spoke with you directly as well.”

Carlisle’s shoulders dropped. He knew. 

“Come sit, please,” said Carlisle politely. 

Godric sat, letting his eyes wander around the office. The walls were composed of bookshelves, and it appeared Carlisle Cullen had been no slouch in accumulating a proud collection. 

“You have quite the catalogue,” Godric acknowledged.

“I’ve always enjoyed reading,” admitted Carlisle. 

Godric nodded politely. For lack of anything to really say, he responded, “My childe insisted we learn in the 14th century.”

“Fascinating,” said Carlisle genuinely. “I’d love to hear about your early years.”

Godric didn’t respond, raising an eyebrow. “Your childe, Edward—“

“He struggles,” Carlisle cut in hastily. “His ability—it challenges him. I fear it has affected him.”

Obviously. “His human, Miss Swan,” said Godric, searching for the words. “Does he believe her  to be his mate?”

“Yes,” said Carlisle. “He does.”

It didn’t change anything—it didn’t change that she wasn’t—but it did. It changed a lot. If Edward truly believed Bella was his mate, it made her being human even more bizarre. Bella Swan wanted to be a vampire. Jessica could inform Godric she wanted to be human again. He was nearly certain he would be able to find a way to suit the request. It was difficult—no, painful, to deny a mate anything.

“Bella is special,” says Carlisle. “She can’t be glamoured—most abilities don’t work on her. Edward is afraid that as a vampire she will lose this quality.”

Godric leaned back in his chair, settling in as Carlisle continued on in defense of Edward. It would be a long night.

.

JESSICA

.

So, that happened. Jessica had approached it all wrong, apparently. She was good at that, it seemed. Screwing things up on complete accident.

“Uh,” said Jessica. “There there.”

Bella sniffled. Jessica, feeling a little flustered, offered, “I’ll make you a playlist?”

As it would turn out, Bella kind of knew. Jessica had barely walked into the room and had only mentioned the word, ‘Ed—‘ before Bella had burst into tears and unloaded onto Jess about her tragic love life.

Edward didn’t want Bella to be a vampire. In fact, according to Edward, Bella was better off dead.

Which, super lame of him honestly—if you asked Jessica, being a vampire wasn’t that big of a deal actually. Sure, there was the blood drinking thing and the religious concerns about her immortal soul and if she actually had one now, but really, it wasn’t like, that crazy.

And Edward was supposed to love Bella. 

“Look,” said Jessica finally. “Why are you with him if you aren’t happy?”

“I love him,” said Bella, all weepy. It was super dramatic. 

“Yeah,” said Jessica kindly. Sort of. “I’m gonna make you a playlist—what do you think of Fleetwood Mac? You seem like a Fleetwood Mac kind of girl.”

Bella blinked, her eyes glassy. “I do?”

“Absolutely,” said Jessica, praying for any god listening to save her form this disaster of a conversation.

No God swooped in to save her—but Godric did come out of Carlisle’s office about twenty minutes later, the bond between them rippling with a torrid of strange emotion.

“Miss Swan,” said Godric politely, latching onto Jessica’s arm as he moved by. Jessica allowed him to pull her to her feet. “We must be going—urgent business back home, you see.”

Jessica nodded in agreement, picking up the bullshit excuse Godric was throwing down immediately. “Eric can’t manage without us, you see,” lied Jessica.

“Wonderful to meet you all,” Godric announced to the house at large. Then they left. 

As soon as they were out of earshot, Godric gave her a flat look. “We are never coming back.”

“Agreed,” said Jessica instantly. Lauren could visit, if it was really necessary. “Let’s ditch this popsicle stand.”

.

.

.

They made it back to Louisiana in record time. Shreveport’s night scene was in full swing by the time they strolled up, and Pam let them in with a smirk and a wink. Jessica adored her. 

Eric was the same—annoying. But, he was using her playlist, so she could forgive him. 

She twirled the floor open to her, her smile threatening to split her face in two as the lights fizzled around her, the flashes of many faces crossing her minds eye. Snippets of possibilities flooded her, a little overwhelming as the music pumped through the speakers—Jessica stumbled to a stop, her eyes landing on a man in his forties. He was an accountant, but Jessica knew with a bizarre certainty that he would be much, much happier if he quit his job and moved to Peru. He’d meet a woman there, Elena. They wouldn’t have any children, but they would be happier that way. She turned her head, feeling slightly nauseous as the girl swinging around next to her bumped into her. Jessica could see her with a nice boy from her college. They hadn’t met yet, that would happen next semester when she accidentally went to the wrong science class and was too embarrassed to get up during that first lesson. They’d get married. She was going through a vampire phase right now. She’d outgrow it.

Jessica exhaled, a little shakily as she glanced around the room—images of various possibilities, of the best future consumed her a little as the song faded to the next one, almost in tune with the beat. She thought about Bella then. She’d thought it was a little daydream. Her CD was playing, the one she’d made for Eric. When she glanced at him, the images came a little sharper, a little clearer as he looked back at her. 

It was the connection. The music wasn’t necessary, she knew this intensely—the way she knew she needed blood to survive, the way she needed Godric. It was the connection, the way it united people. The stronger a person felt about it—about her, the stronger she could see it.

“Oh,” she realized. She glanced at Godric. “This is new.”

Eternity didn’t sound half bad.