REVIVED: Vengeance of The Sun And Moon

What's Best

    Godfrey knew that the day he spent with Kazmiyah would turn up with something bad happening-or maybe it was just his pessimistic mind playing tricks on him. 

    He was mentally kicking himself as he made his way home for the night after doing a shift at the bar to get his mind off of things. Needless to say, it did not help in the least.

    The only thing that kept repeatedly playing over and over in his mind was having returned to the hospital after being convinced by Kazmiyah to take a load off, reassuring him that after what the girl had been through, she couldn't have awakened so soon. Needless to say, Godfrey shouldn't have been surprised to find that Aurora had been long gone.

    Godfrey refused to call his father, though he knew that he probably should have done that in the first place as it seemed Varick was the only one who always seemed to know almost everything about everyone. Still, something in his gut told him that if Aurora Vale did not want to be found then there was nothing that could be done about it.

    “You alright?” 

    He hadn’t realized that someone was walking beside him until he heard the voice. Boy, this girl really has me going for a loop, he thought to himself. He turned to see Kazmiyah walking beside him, a small sympathetic expression on her face.

    “Fine.” He smiled as he wrapped his arm around her neck to pull her close to him in a momentary hug. It became a habit-forming gesture since her return. Sometimes, Godfrey just couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around the fact that she was back.

    “Have you seen her?” Kazmiyah asked. She seemed to know what was already bugging Godfrey's mind before he could even hint toward it.

    Godfrey laid his eyes on her for a moment before smirking in amusement. “You sure you care?” He asked.

    She sighed. “Godfrey, I’ve told you before that I do not particularly hate the girl. We just...got off on the wrong foot is all.” She chuckled. “In fact, I’d actually like to see her and straighten this whole thing out.” She looked ahead as she distanced herself suddenly. “After what I did, I couldn’t help finding myself comparing my actions to something that my sister would have done.”

    Godfrey stopped and grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him. “One thing you’re not and one thing you will never be is Alora Crescent, Kazzy.” He reassured. “Got me?” He wouldn’t allow her to budge until she nodded.

    “Got ya.” She smiled.

    Godfrey returned her smile and they kept down the street. “What brings you out here anyway? I thought you’d be at home with the old man.” 

    Kazmiyah sighed. “I-I don’t know. I love being around dad and I love having him to myself but...sometimes he smothers me.” She chuckled. “It’s like he’s afraid to let me out of his sights because he thinks I’ll never return.”

    “Well, can you blame him?” Godfrey asked her. Kazmiyah looked up at him and he returned her gaze. “I mean, isn’t that what you did?”

    “I was dead, Godfrey.” She reasoned. “It wasn’t like I just-”

    “Got up and walked away?” He finished her sentence. As if knowing that saying it aloud was something of a wake-up call, she didn’t counter his claim. Godfrey lightly laughed and turned his attention down the street again. “It may not have been your run-of-the-mill desertion like your stepmother, but it was that nonetheless, Kazzy.” Godfrey pointed out. “You made a conscious decision to leave after you awakened….without a note….without any reassurance that you were okay or that you would ever be seen again-”

    “Are you blaming this on me?” Kazmiyah found offense in his assumptions but she was more hurt than she was angry.

    “No, Kaz,” Godfrey said, his charming smile still there. “Of course not. It isn’t your fault-none of this is. No one can judge you for leaving. I’m certainly not.” He said trying to let her know that he didn’t mean to offend her. “You have two deaths under your belt-two real deaths. That cannot be easy on the mind and I’m sure yours was frazzled at first. I’m only saying….to give the old man a break.” He smirked. “He has a heavy burden on his shoulders as well. He feels like he’s the cause of your mother’s situation as well as Cres, Alora, and...especially yours. And the only solace he had left was your headstone-as crazy as that may sound. Then he comes home one day and your grave is dug up and you’re gone.” He shrugged. “Certainly, you see how traumatizing that can be. He’s already had a lifetime of guilt in not knowing or recognizing that you were his daughter in the first place.” 

    Kazmiyah sighed, knowing that Godfrey was right. “Guess, I didn’t think of it that way.” She then smirked and looked at him, feigning suspicion. “When did you get so philosophical and wise?” She teased.

    Godfrey looked at her with his devilishly charming grin. “Please, I was born this way, girl.” He smirked. “I only show such amazingness to those who deserve to see it.” He playfully nudged her.

    Kazmiyah chuckled. “Well, I am humbled that you feel that way, sir, Godfrey.”

    They continued walking, making small conversation until Godfrey decided to confront her with the real reason as to why she had decided on taking a walk.

    “So, you know the only reason I have not disappeared on you yet, is because I know that there is another reason why you’re here.”

    “I don't know what you mean.” 

    “Except you do.” Godfrey corrected. “It’s that boy toy of yours isn’t it?” His small smirk disintegrated into a big grimace. “What’s happened to him?”

    “Are you sure you care?” Kazmiyah asked, using his earlier choice of words on him.

    Godfrey smirked. “No.” He simply admitted. “But I am very capable of admitting that. In fact, you’d probably make my night in telling me that he bit the big one-”

    “Godfrey.” Kazmiyah stopped. 

    When he turned around, he could see the hurt in her eyes for what he had said. He sighed. “The only reason….that I will even entertain this conversation is because I know that-for some reason, you care about the guy.”

    Kazmiyah sighed. “I do.” She confessed before she too suddenly wore a grimace. “And I absolutely hate it.” She muttered. She then looked at Godfrey again. “But he’s not okay, Godfrey and if he’s not okay then Rojer is not okay and neither are the rest of the Navarre. I just….I just can’t help but feel that they’re in danger.” 

    Godfrey couldn’t ignore the worry that was enrapturing Kazmiyah's otherwise flawless expression. This impulsive concern for her was yet another thing to add to the list of his frustrations.

    He heaved a big sigh and just gave her an empathetic smile. “I guess we should probably see our dads about this then, huh.”

********************************

    When they arrived at the Blood Haven mansion, Godfrey’s thoughts immediately shifted to Aurora, wondering if she’d be there.

    “Son,” Varick spoke with a chipper greeting when he saw Godfrey approaching him and the Alpha Crescent. He then turned his gaze to Kazmiyah. “Ah, the little moon.” He smiled. “It is….quite refreshing to see your face again.” He smiled.

    “Thank you, elder Varick,” Kazmiyah replied before looking at her father. “Dad.” She said. “You’re here for-”

    “Alora and Falcon.” He finished her sentence. “We’re going to send scouts to track them down.” 

    “Or I could just go,” Kazmiyah suggested.

    This gathered incredulous stares all around, but none more incredulous than her father. “Absolutely not.” He answered.

    “Dad, not this again,” Kazmiyah said. “I will return, but as it stands, I would get to them far faster than any of your scouts and you know this-”

    “I cannot allow that, Kazmiyah.” Warren tried to reason. “You are not-”

    “Why are you being so difficult?!” She snapped. “I’m not some child that you have to lock up in an attic anymore, dad! I’m a…” Her words trailed off as her eyes pulsated in a momentary rage.

    “You alright, Kazzy?” Godfrey reluctantly asked. 

    Taking in a deep breath, she turned her attention to her friend. “I’m-I’m fine.” She reassured.

    “Except you’re not,” Warren replied. Kazmiyah was annoyed with her father’s comment. “Now? Now, do you see why?” He hissed. “I’m not trying to place you under lock and key, Kazmiyah Crescent Moon!” He hissed. “I am trying to protect you.” 

    “I don’t need your protection, dad-”

    “Well, then how about those that need it from you?” Warren intervened. This silenced Kazmiyah. Warren took her shoulders into his hands. “You put….a girl through an F-350 because she didn’t tell you her name, Kazmiyah.” He reminded her. “Does that sound...okay to you?”

    Kazmiyah shamefully averted her gaze. Of course, it didn’t. “No.” She finally said. “No, it doesn’t.” She looked at her father. “But I don’t know how to deal with this. How am I supposed to understand this-what is going on with me?” 

    There was a desperate need in her eyes for her father to give her an answer to her question. She needed him.

    “Well,” Warren hesitantly replied. “Varick and I have been...talking.” He said. “I do not know how you’re going to feel about this but…”

    “But? But what?” She asked, stepping closer to her father, taking his hand into hers as a hopeful gesture. 

    “We were thinking that you return….to school,” Varick said.

    Kazmiyah incredulously looked at Godfrey’s father. “You can’t be-you can’t be serious!” She then looked at Warren and saw the sheepish grin on his face. “You-you’re serious?”

    He shrugged. “You did say you always wanted to see what it was like to be a normal teenager.” He pointed out.

    Kazmiyah, remembering the hell that she had gone through when she first tried her luck at school, immediately began to fill up with anxiety. “Dad, I-that was like ten years ago!”

    “Not...that long,” Warren muttered. “Being a little overdramatic, I think.” He sarcastically added under his breath. 

    “Ugh, okay, I know that it hasn’t technically been that long but...but dad I’m like-I’m almost twenty-one! I can’t-I can’t go back to school-besides, you’ve taught me everything that there is to know-”

    “About the basics, Kaz. Had I known that you were a goddess of the moon, there would have been quite a few more things that were a part of the curriculum” He sarcastically added after he cut her off. "but if I’m being honest, I never would have thought that my daughter would be a goddess. I wanted you to know about the gist of the inhuman world-enough to get by if ever the time came for you to leave, but not everything.” Her father confessed to her... “And you’re barely even twenty, Kaz.” Warren reminded her. “And who cares-even if you were? You’re younger looking than half of those kids in there.” He attempted to reason. 

    “Besides,” Varick chimed in. “It is the best place for you to learn more about yourself.” He said. “You have not yet confidently acquired the ability to communicate with your grandmother so that she can better teach you, though I’m sure she’s a little too busy to do so at the moment.” He continued. “And you’ve never had the privilege of learning the ins and outs of our kind.” He said referring to the inhuman species created under the Goddess moon as a whole. “You’d be surprised with what you may be able to learn while there.”

    Kazmiyah stood there quietly, the thought of returning to school terrorizing her. It suddenly seemed so much easier to face whatever oncoming danger she assumed Falcon was going through.

    “I hate to agree with these old people,” Godfrey intercepted. “But they have a point.” Godfrey cut his eyes at his dad who had a goofed up smile on his face before Godfrey returned his attention to Kazmiyah.. “Crescent High is profound in its knowledge-even possessing some things that you’d think the last that anyone would know.” He nudged her with a playful smile. “Give it a chance, Kazzy.”

    Godfrey could tell that Kazmiyah wasn’t too crazy about returning to Crescent High and he understood why, but at the same time, he had to confess that his father and the Alpha’s decision for her to finish at least one year of high school would probably be beneficial for her.

    After Kazmiyah left with Warren, Godfrey headed up the stairs to go to his room-and maybe peep in on Aurora to see if she were-

    “She’s not here, you know.”

    His father cut off his mental intentions and immediately grabbed Godrey’s attention. Still, Godfrey didn’t want to seem too obvious about the fact that his father’s assumptions of who he may or may not have been thinking about were right. He paused, barely mid-way up the stair, not bothering to turn and face the elder vampire before he replied. 

    “Who...are you talking about, oh dear dad of mine?” He tiredly said.

    Varick smirked. “You know who.” He answered, standing at the foot of the stairs now. “The girl that has had your mind in a stupor since you first even met her.” He added. “You’ve been thinking about her all day long-”

    “What do you want, old man?” Godfrey turned around, finally to face his father.

    Varick could still feel the resentment of his son, radiating from him. It didn’t sit well with him but he tried to brush it to the side for the time being. 

    “Just to let you know that your lady love has left the Blood Haven mansion. She...and her little niece. I guess she feels that she has outstayed her welcome.”

    The fact that this bothered Godfrey more than he thought it would, disturbed his conscience as he asked himself for what must have been the thousandth and one time; what is wrong with me? He kept his expression unreadable, however. For some reason, he didn’t want his father-or anyone else for that matter-not even Kazmiyah to see how protective he had become of the Vale girl.

    “Is there anything else that you wanted to let me in on?” Godfrey sarcastically retorted.

    Varick turned around and walked away. “I thought that you should also tell her of the decision that the Alpha and I made about returning to school.”

    Godfrey was confused at first as he was still annoyed with his father in the first place. “Why would Aurora want to know about Kazmiyah returning to school-”

    “I’m sure she doesn’t care one way or another, whether Kazmiyah Crescent would jump off a bridge, let alone return to high school. No,” He turned to face his son. “I was talking about Aurora Vale returning to school, oh dear son of mine.”

    After his father told him where Aurora was, he reluctantly agreed to go and see Aurora to tell her of the decision that the Alpha Crescent and he had made about her returning to school. Godfrey knew that she wouldn’t like it and Varick knew too, which was why Varick had decided to ask Godfrey to tell Aurora about the news. Admittedly, Godfrey hoped that she would take the news better if it came from him.

    He approached the bed and breakfast that the Crescent Wolf Linda owned and pushed through the doors.

    “Ah, young Jefferson-White.” She greeted upon seeing Godfrey enter the gracefully antiqued establishment. 

    “Good evening to you, Mrs. Linda.” Godfrey nodded with respect. He wasn’t too fond of the wolves but he always respected the older woman. She could only be remembered as a kind soul who respected and showed equal treatment to all of the inhumans that she came into contact with. “Hope you’re faring well.” He said.

    “I’m fine, young prince.” She called him. If Linda wasn't referring to Godfrey by name or surname, she'd always call him the young prince. “I take it, you are not here for a room.” She said.

    “No madam.” Godfrey replied, “In fact, I am here on...business you could say.”

    “Wouldn’t be about one of the young women that very recently booked an extended stay here would it? Maybe that spicy young lady that has recently taken refuge in one of my rooms?” She asked knowingly.

    Godfrey smirked. “See she’s rubbed you the wrong way as well, huh?” 

    “Ha, on the contrary.” Mrs. Linda chuckled. “I quite like the saucy young girl. She reminds me of a younger me…”

    “I bet,” Godfrey smirked with amusement. “Would you mind relaying to me what room she’s in?”

    “Sure, but only because it is business.” She grinned. “I’ve changed the labeling on the rooms but it should be easy enough to find.” She wrote the number down on a piece of paper and gave it to him. “Good luck.” She smiled. “She is definitely a feisty one.” 

    “Don’t I know it.” Godfrey smiled and headed past the desk to look for her room.

    When he finally appeared in front of the door, he knocked and of course, there was no answer. He knocked again-this time a little harder and still received no answer. Then he banged and was so incessant, he hadn’t realized that the door opened until his hand was caught mid-air by the now short hair vixen. Her hair was damp and she had a tank top on and a pair of black yoga pants.

    “I heard you.” She said.

    “Good,” Godfrey replied, his eyes devouring every ounce of her curvaceous body as he looked her over. He suddenly found it hard to concentrate. “Where’s your niece?”

    “In her own room, asleep.” She answered. “Apparently, she has class tomorrow.” She rolled her eyes. “Is that why you’ve come banging on my room door at half-past midnight? To ask about the whereabouts of my niece? Last I checked she was none of your concern.” 

    “Not the only reason. No.” Godfrey replied.

    “Oh, I see,” Aurora said. “You came here fooor, more false promises? Or just to look at me like some dumb deer caught in headlights?” 

    “Someone’s feisty tonight.” Godfrey sarcastically stated.

    “It’s first nature.” Aurora bluntly retorted. “Now what do you want?”

    “Why did you leave?” He asked before he could think twice about it, his body unconsciously moving closer to hers.

    “Why do you care?” Aurora combatted without missing a beat.

    Godfrey grimaced, realizing that if he played this game with her, it could go on forever and never get anywhere. After all, he could see that she was the queen of deflecting. So, he instead decided to change the subject to the core reason that he was even asked to come to the Inn in the first place. “Seems your niece isn’t the only one that will be attending school.”

    Aurora unconsciously moved to the side, not even realizing that she was allowing space for him to come in. “Wait-wha-”

    He walked past her, needing to avert his gaze from her for a moment to get his thoughts back together. “Yeah, apparently the old man and the Alpha Crescent have come to a mutual decision that you should return to school.”

    “I-excuse me-what?” Aurora was quite surprised by this comment. 

    Godfrey turned around. “You heard right.”

    “Except it is not their decision to send me back to school.”

    “You’ve been playing the teenager for...nearly two hundred years now, Aurora. It won’t kill you to actually go to a school that will teach you something this time.”

    “Excuse me?” Why his words offended her, she didn’t know; but the fact that he could get under her skin so easily was nerve-racking.

    “Your body-for some reason is stopping itself from transitioning and going to Crescent High-attending a school that will actually teach you how to move past that will-”

    “I don’t need your school to teach me anything-” Her words cut him off, her gaze switching around as she heard that voice in her head, cackling. “Shut up.” She hissed.

    “Okay, that wasn’t weird,” Godfrey muttered.

    Aurora snapped her tyrian colored gaze at Godfrey “This isn’t some decision that the Alpha and your father made together-this is an idea that your father had all on his own-”

    “What does it matter, Aurora?” Godfrey asked. “If it’s going to help you then-”

    “I don’t like your father.” Aurora cut him off. “I certainly don’t trust him-”

    “And you think he doesn’t know that?” He said. “And anyway, what can possibly go wrong in going to school?”

    Godfrey had made his point, but it was just the principal. Aurora didn’t mind going to school to learn about herself-about everything concerning the inhuman world that she didn’t know, but….she had other things-more pressing things to be concerned about.

    “I can’t go, Godfrey. I-”

    “Aurora, why are you being so difficult?!” He snapped. “This is for your own good! No one will benefit from this more than you-”

    “Exactly! Me! Me, Godfrey!” She exclaimed. “My brother...is out there and I need to find him.” She pressed. “I have to find him and despite what you’ve reassured me, I’m not seeing any concern from anyone besides me, his daughter and his friend.” Aurora insisted, referring to Mags and Marlo. “So school...will have to wait.” She started for the door of her room when Godfrey grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. She tried to jerk away but he whipped her around nonetheless to face him. 

    “Why do you insist on assuming the worst with me?” He asked. 

    He watched Aurora anxiously bite her lip and the simple gesture was like a magnet that pulled his gaze toward them. 

    “Where were you?” She asked, pressing her lips together for a moment before finishing her question. “When I woke up, Godfrey?”

    When she asked this question, Godfrey seemed to be unable to answer. Not only because he was caught off guard but because he didn’t know how she’d react to his answer. He backed away from her.

    “Why does that matter?” He asked.

    Aurora’s expression turned up between a smirk and a small smile. “Just a question.” She said. “A simple question….Where were you?’

    “That’s…” Suddenly he felt defensive. “None of your concern, Aurora.” He said.

    After a moment or two-standing there and watching the flawlessly charming face of Godfrey Jefferson-White, she simply nodded and smiled. 

    “You’re right.” She finally replied. “It is none of my business...because we don't each other,” She pulled away from him and opened her room door. “So why shouldn’t I assume the worst in you? Why should I even trust you?” She looked at him. “When I don’t even know you.” 

    Her words stung, but Godfrey was too stubborn to outright let that be known. She was too bull-headed to listen to another word he’d say. He may not have known her that well but he knew her well enough to be aware of that.

    He stopped before he left the room. “Just...think about it, Aurora, please.” He said. “You have to help yourself before you can your brother. If you don’t you won’t just stand a chance of losing him. But your niece...and Marlo as well.” He walked out of the door and started down the hallway. He thought twice about what he would say next and said it anyway. “I do care about what happens to you, Rora,” Godfrey told her. “Whether we know each other well enough or not.” When he said that, he turned around to see that she wasn’t standing there anymore. 

    In truth, he heard her when she gently closed the door. At this point, he could only hope that she followed the advice of his father and the Alpha Crescent.

*************************

    Aurora stood there, back facing the door. She knew that he was right but for some reason, a part of her felt so betrayed when she woke up to see that Godfrey wasn’t there, it was hard to listen to anything that he had to say. The fact that he wouldn’t answer her question only added coal to the fire; but in the end, she knew that she had to make the right decision-not just for her but for Mags, Jeriko, and Marlo as well.

    “Guess we’ll be going to school soon.” That voice teased in the back of her head.

    “Ah, shut up.” She hissed.