Back In Time

Chapter 11: In Which I Swap Blood with The Viking

I was frantically trying to think of something to say to Godric but found it a little difficult when they were both looming over me so menacingly. I thought fleetingly that I seriously was not living right when I actually had cause to use the phrase 'looming over me so menacingly' in a real situation. Back to the matter at hand, I wasn't sure what the best course to take was.

"I can't necessarily argue with that," I told him. "I mean, I never found a human to love even when I was one. The only time I've truly been in love is with Eric," I said, glancing up at him. He looked slightly startled but hid it quickly. It couldn't be easy for him hearing his future predicted this way and I realized that he was taking it pretty well. Godric seemed to come back to himself, retracting his fangs with a faint smile.

"You will understand, one day," he assured me. I bit back the impulse to thank him for his opinion but assure him that he was wrong. Instead, I shrugged my shoulders slightly and at him, more than thankful that a possible crisis had been averted. Eric shook himself slightly, apparently coming out of the bloodlust as well, and I heard his fangs retract. "Anna, sit." Still in thrall to his glamour, the girl immediately complied and sat in the chair nearest to her. "I brought you some gowns and things, I believe they will suit you," he gestured toward the chest, a shy smile on his face.

I couldn't believe how one minute he could be so ruthless, casually talking about killing someone just because he could, and the next he was adorable and shy about getting some clothes for me. Of course, it is our nature to be duplicitous but he was a master. Despite that fact, I had to smile back at him. I couldn't seem to help liking him, even when I had clearly just glimpsed the heartless side of him.

"I'm sure they're lovely," I told him. "But I am sort of anxious to hear what you have planned for tonight. Eric told me you'd like us to bond?" I really wanted to get this show on the road. I was willing to try anything that might get me back to my own time before Future Eric lost his mind and went on a killing spree when he couldn't find me.

He shrugged out of his overcoat. "Yes, I am very curious to learn whether his blood will recognize yours. As vampires, we do not change. The blood in his veins now will be the same in 500 years, and therefore should be the same as what is in your veins. Partially, of course," he added, loosening the collar of his shirt. It came open and revealed part of the tattoo around his neck and I had a sudden flash of all of his tattoos on display when he'd taken his shirt off to meet the sun. He'd been so hopeful, so expectant, as he turned to the sky and I felt a pang remembering it. I suppressed the memory, focusing back on him in the here and now. The strangest expression crossed his face before he quickly rearranged his features into a bland smile. Weird.

"That is an interesting theory," I agreed. "But I'm not sure how it will help us to figure out what's going on."

"If you share the connection of the bond, your thoughts will be more in sync. He will feel your emotions, be able to divine some of the things you're feeling, and I hope that the combined intuition will facilitate the solving of this mystery," he explained, sprawling into the chair Eric had vacated. Although he was currently wearing more clothes than I was used to seeing on a man, he somehow managed to look very casual with the neck of his shirt open and the sleeves pushed back to his elbows. I nodded, understanding his train of thought better.

"Ok, that makes sense too. I suppose it's worth a shot," I conceded. I noticed both of them wrinkle their brows. "Uh, I mean, I suppose we should try it because it may be beneficial?" They immediately nodded and I made a mental note to pay closer attention to my phrasing.

"Excellent. If progress is made after the two of you bond, I would be wiling to bond with you myself. Though of course, I would not insist if you were opposed." Wow. That was a big deal. It was a big enough deal that he wanted Eric to bond with me, though I could understand why. They knew I was telling the truth and since Eric was my Maker, there'd be no harm done. At least none as far as they were concerned. I knew it would be a huge pain in my ass to feel his emotions, especially if he went out on the prowl, but I was really hoping that I wouldn't be sticking around here too much longer.