Fight on Undaunted: Chapter Eleven - part 3
Read part 1.
Read part 2.
He opened his mouth to question her more, but Diamantina was already dead. He stared down at her, still bewildered. Was she telling the truth?
Godric dropped down to the ground several feet away. “They’re all dead. Saule is making sure their families join them in the afterlife.”
“That’s good, I guess,” Eric said, thinking of the rage on the faces of the other vampires. “I’ve never thought of our blood is sacred before.”
Godric nodded grimly. “It is forbidden,” he said, glancing down at Diamantina’s corpse. “It is too dangerous for mortals to drink from us.”
“They certainly became stronger.” Eric smiled wryly. “I’ve never seen anyone almost get the better of you.”
To his utmost surprise, Godric smiled brightly. “I know. It’s not often I have a chance to fight against anyone that rivals my strength.”
Eric snorted, his mind already returning to Diamantina’s final words. He gazed over the sea, wondering which direction to take once they returned to the mainland. They’re out there. Not the ones that killed Father, but their children live, just as I do. Then a darker thought, one he’d thought quelled. I will take back my father’s crown.
“I don’t think Saule appreciated you usurping her like that,” Eric said, hoping to rouse himself from things best left alone.
“Saule knew little about magic before tonight.” There was no judgement in Godric's voice or his face. “She could not have known to immediately kill the head witch. But she is grateful for our quick thinking. Should she ever encounter witches again, she’ll know better.”
“Seems stupid to have come here without knowing anything about them.”
“She didn’t realise these witches were so dangerous.” Godric shrugged. “She is not to blame. None of us saw the danger.”
Eric glanced up at the sky. “Let’s go find someplace to rest.” Sleep will keep the dark thoughts away. “It’s close enough to dawn.
They found a suitable spot away from the burned houses and bodies. Eric sat on the edge of his hole, swinging his legs absently. If he got in now, he wouldn’t be able to sleep until the sun rose. He’d just be buried with his thoughts, a horrible prospect.
Godric sat down beside him and picked up his hand. Eric looked at him, surprised.
“I heard what she said to you,” Godric said, stroking the back of Eric's hand. “About your father’s crown.” He sighed. “You still want your revenge.”
Eric didn’t answer. He heard the screams of his family while he dallied with some girl, making him too slow to save his mother and sister. In less than five minutes, his family had died, yet those few minutes were seared into his mind, crystal clear despite all this time.
Finally he growled, “Those creatures killed my family. I want them to know, want them to see me before my fangs rip their throats out.” The reason was savage and illogical, and that made it all the stronger.
“The ones responsible for the deaths of your parents and sister are long dead,” Godric reminded him gently. “Why punish those that know nothing of your family?”
Everything Godric said was perfectly logical and he saw the sense in them. Somehow it didn’t matter that they weren’t directly responsible... he just wanted others to suffer as he had.
It makes no sense, Eric thought angrily. The pain of losing my children faded. I can think of them fondly and not cry for them. But my heart turns hard when I think of my parents and sister, and all I want is to avenge them. Thinking of them now made his fangs lengthen. It makes me want to kill innocent people...
“How did you make your humanity go away?” Eric asked abruptly, his voice bitter. Godric's hand paused.
“My humanity died quickly on its own. I had no need for it.” Godric studied Eric's face. “But you wanted to keep yours?”
“It’s done nothing but bring me pain,” he said angrily. “Maybe I was stupid to want to keep it.”
“Your desire for revenge will keep you connected to your humanity,” Godric said. “Can you let that go?”
Eric closed his eyes.
It’s not wrong to enjoy my life.
You have no sense of responsibility.
Can we talk about this later?
Eric, grow up. You can’t spend your life between a woman’s legs.
I can try.
Get back here. Your place is with me!
All you want me to do is follow you around!
I want you to learn to be king!
I will! Tomorrow!
He forced himself to see the truth. His father had not given his title to a man worthy of it, but a selfish, spoiled brat.
You are king.
No. I won’t allow it. Help!
You know what to do.
Yes.
Vengeance...
Vengeance.
His final promise to his father had become the last of the many disappointments. If Godric is right, then my father is past caring that I failed him yet again. But I’m not. I want to keep my word.
“No,” he said, wearily opening his eyes. “Not until the wolves with the mark are wiped off the face of the earth.”
“But it isn’t the wolves, is it?” Godric said. “It’s the master.”
“Yes,” Eric said, surprised by Godric's perceptiveness. “The master. He stole my father’s crown while he still had breath.”
His mind drifted to his mother and sister. Astrid looked so beautiful whenever she held her daughter. Too many times he’d sat beside her after she’d miscarried or had to hold her hand while she buried another infant only days old. Again she’d been cheated of another child.
His father robbed of his crown. His mother robbed of her daughter. His sister robbed of her life.
You know what to do.
Yes.
Vengeance...
Vengeance.
It will never happen, Eric told himself sternly, forcing back tears. Just accept it.
His Maker stroked his face and Eric leaned into the caress. This tumultuous night proving to be the exception, Godric rarely touched him and Eric never touched him first. Perhaps it was because Godric was his Maker, for Eric always felt calmer whenever Godric touched him.
Then Godric's next words left him dizzy with horror.
“I have nothing more to teach you, my Child. You might not use everything I have taught you, but that is your choice. You can survive on your own,” Godric said softly. “I can release you.”
It was that same feeling of ripped apart horror he’d had when his parents died. Eric swallowed, hoping he’d misheard. He looked at Godric's face, wanting to see his mischievous smile, but he was only solemn.
“No” he whispered, drawing away from Godric's hand.
“I’m offering you your freedom,” Godric said slowly, “and you don’t want it?”
Eric shook his head.
“But... why?” Godric said. He was bewildered. “I was not with my Maker for as long as we have been.”
“Mastery and freedom are what you value, Godric. I value my family.” Eric hoped Godric could understand what he meant. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Godric stared at him. “I’ve upset you.”
Can’t you see that you’re all I have? Eric's voice trembled. “Godric, don’t do it.”
Godric looked away. Eric watched Godric's expressionless face for a few seconds, wanting to see some clue, but there was nothing. He bowed his head.
The silence between them was awful to Eric. Too many dark thoughts swirled through his head, so he pulled out the macramé bracelet he’d been working on, focusing solely on it. But then the final knot was done.
Godric narrowed his eyes when Eric picked up his wrist, an expected response, but he relaxed when Eric tied the knotted bracelet around it. Godric smiled at the gift, running his fingers over it as he studied the shells and rocks.
“It’s beautiful,” Godric said softly. If it’s to be the final gift, Eric thought, I should have made it better.
Godric looked up. “We will find your father’s crown.”
Eric's eyes widened. “We?” he repeated.
His Maker nodded. “I promise I will help you.”
“Thank you.” Eric flung his arms around his Maker. For the first time in a hundred and thirty five years, Godric didn’t flinch away.
Read part 2.
He opened his mouth to question her more, but Diamantina was already dead. He stared down at her, still bewildered. Was she telling the truth?
Godric dropped down to the ground several feet away. “They’re all dead. Saule is making sure their families join them in the afterlife.”
“That’s good, I guess,” Eric said, thinking of the rage on the faces of the other vampires. “I’ve never thought of our blood is sacred before.”
Godric nodded grimly. “It is forbidden,” he said, glancing down at Diamantina’s corpse. “It is too dangerous for mortals to drink from us.”
“They certainly became stronger.” Eric smiled wryly. “I’ve never seen anyone almost get the better of you.”
To his utmost surprise, Godric smiled brightly. “I know. It’s not often I have a chance to fight against anyone that rivals my strength.”
Eric snorted, his mind already returning to Diamantina’s final words. He gazed over the sea, wondering which direction to take once they returned to the mainland. They’re out there. Not the ones that killed Father, but their children live, just as I do. Then a darker thought, one he’d thought quelled. I will take back my father’s crown.
“I don’t think Saule appreciated you usurping her like that,” Eric said, hoping to rouse himself from things best left alone.
“Saule knew little about magic before tonight.” There was no judgement in Godric's voice or his face. “She could not have known to immediately kill the head witch. But she is grateful for our quick thinking. Should she ever encounter witches again, she’ll know better.”
“Seems stupid to have come here without knowing anything about them.”
“She didn’t realise these witches were so dangerous.” Godric shrugged. “She is not to blame. None of us saw the danger.”
Eric glanced up at the sky. “Let’s go find someplace to rest.” Sleep will keep the dark thoughts away. “It’s close enough to dawn.
They found a suitable spot away from the burned houses and bodies. Eric sat on the edge of his hole, swinging his legs absently. If he got in now, he wouldn’t be able to sleep until the sun rose. He’d just be buried with his thoughts, a horrible prospect.
Godric sat down beside him and picked up his hand. Eric looked at him, surprised.
“I heard what she said to you,” Godric said, stroking the back of Eric's hand. “About your father’s crown.” He sighed. “You still want your revenge.”
Eric didn’t answer. He heard the screams of his family while he dallied with some girl, making him too slow to save his mother and sister. In less than five minutes, his family had died, yet those few minutes were seared into his mind, crystal clear despite all this time.
Finally he growled, “Those creatures killed my family. I want them to know, want them to see me before my fangs rip their throats out.” The reason was savage and illogical, and that made it all the stronger.
“The ones responsible for the deaths of your parents and sister are long dead,” Godric reminded him gently. “Why punish those that know nothing of your family?”
Everything Godric said was perfectly logical and he saw the sense in them. Somehow it didn’t matter that they weren’t directly responsible... he just wanted others to suffer as he had.
It makes no sense, Eric thought angrily. The pain of losing my children faded. I can think of them fondly and not cry for them. But my heart turns hard when I think of my parents and sister, and all I want is to avenge them. Thinking of them now made his fangs lengthen. It makes me want to kill innocent people...
“How did you make your humanity go away?” Eric asked abruptly, his voice bitter. Godric's hand paused.
“My humanity died quickly on its own. I had no need for it.” Godric studied Eric's face. “But you wanted to keep yours?”
“It’s done nothing but bring me pain,” he said angrily. “Maybe I was stupid to want to keep it.”
“Your desire for revenge will keep you connected to your humanity,” Godric said. “Can you let that go?”
Eric closed his eyes.
It’s not wrong to enjoy my life.
You have no sense of responsibility.
Can we talk about this later?
Eric, grow up. You can’t spend your life between a woman’s legs.
I can try.
Get back here. Your place is with me!
All you want me to do is follow you around!
I want you to learn to be king!
I will! Tomorrow!
He forced himself to see the truth. His father had not given his title to a man worthy of it, but a selfish, spoiled brat.
You are king.
No. I won’t allow it. Help!
You know what to do.
Yes.
Vengeance...
Vengeance.
His final promise to his father had become the last of the many disappointments. If Godric is right, then my father is past caring that I failed him yet again. But I’m not. I want to keep my word.
“No,” he said, wearily opening his eyes. “Not until the wolves with the mark are wiped off the face of the earth.”
“But it isn’t the wolves, is it?” Godric said. “It’s the master.”
“Yes,” Eric said, surprised by Godric's perceptiveness. “The master. He stole my father’s crown while he still had breath.”
His mind drifted to his mother and sister. Astrid looked so beautiful whenever she held her daughter. Too many times he’d sat beside her after she’d miscarried or had to hold her hand while she buried another infant only days old. Again she’d been cheated of another child.
His father robbed of his crown. His mother robbed of her daughter. His sister robbed of her life.
You know what to do.
Yes.
Vengeance...
Vengeance.
It will never happen, Eric told himself sternly, forcing back tears. Just accept it.
His Maker stroked his face and Eric leaned into the caress. This tumultuous night proving to be the exception, Godric rarely touched him and Eric never touched him first. Perhaps it was because Godric was his Maker, for Eric always felt calmer whenever Godric touched him.
Then Godric's next words left him dizzy with horror.
“I have nothing more to teach you, my Child. You might not use everything I have taught you, but that is your choice. You can survive on your own,” Godric said softly. “I can release you.”
It was that same feeling of ripped apart horror he’d had when his parents died. Eric swallowed, hoping he’d misheard. He looked at Godric's face, wanting to see his mischievous smile, but he was only solemn.
“No” he whispered, drawing away from Godric's hand.
“I’m offering you your freedom,” Godric said slowly, “and you don’t want it?”
Eric shook his head.
“But... why?” Godric said. He was bewildered. “I was not with my Maker for as long as we have been.”
“Mastery and freedom are what you value, Godric. I value my family.” Eric hoped Godric could understand what he meant. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Godric stared at him. “I’ve upset you.”
Can’t you see that you’re all I have? Eric's voice trembled. “Godric, don’t do it.”
Godric looked away. Eric watched Godric's expressionless face for a few seconds, wanting to see some clue, but there was nothing. He bowed his head.
The silence between them was awful to Eric. Too many dark thoughts swirled through his head, so he pulled out the macramé bracelet he’d been working on, focusing solely on it. But then the final knot was done.
Godric narrowed his eyes when Eric picked up his wrist, an expected response, but he relaxed when Eric tied the knotted bracelet around it. Godric smiled at the gift, running his fingers over it as he studied the shells and rocks.
“It’s beautiful,” Godric said softly. If it’s to be the final gift, Eric thought, I should have made it better.
Godric looked up. “We will find your father’s crown.”
Eric's eyes widened. “We?” he repeated.
His Maker nodded. “I promise I will help you.”
“Thank you.” Eric flung his arms around his Maker. For the first time in a hundred and thirty five years, Godric didn’t flinch away.