PART ONE

Chapter 1

She stood back, her arms crossed over her chest and watched him with amusement. He certainly wouldn't refuse her anything and though she was less than receptive to this idea, he had come along for her sake. As learned as he was in so many things, sports, save for the blood spilling kind, were not in his wheelhouse and her brother had wanted to come along to help. Both siblings, back in their high school days, had been members of their baseball teams and together, they wanted to help teach their loved one the basics of the sport. And here they were, under the light of the school playing field Jason's old baseball bats and balls scattered on a metal bench,

"Normally there would be people at the bases and outfielders and whatever…but I thought just hitting and catching balls might be fun. Better than sitting behind that desk doing whatever it is y'all do at your club. Pam even said she thought you were overworked." Jason said with a wry grin, looking at his brother in law, who in turn, was gripping one of the bats that had been brought. Ya think you like the old school wood or the aluminum ones better?"

She looked at her brother and they both waited as they watched the tank top clad Viking who was taking some tentative practice swings. That he was tentative was something that the siblings sorely wanted to laugh at and yet, Sookie found it adorable that even with all his might and as fierce as he was, that even he had these moments that helped keep his humanity, that adorable quirk that she knew was there. That she knew try as he might, he had a softer side that couldn't be fully hidden was so endearing to her and only those he cared about ever knew this truth about him. "He would prefer his sword…or having some annoying human to whack balls at."

"Nonsense….I would prefer to merely use said human's head for the ball, beats this faux leather hide whatever these are made of." Eric replied with a severe look that quickly melted into a smirk. He was kidding, of course, and yet, she knew that if push came to shove and these bats would need to be used for weapons, he wouldn't have any qualms about using them as such. "So…..you said there was a machine that could pitch the balls? Beating some balls could be fun…..perhaps if someone else was doing it…." the Viking said saucily, looking right at Sookie as he spoke and she rolled her eyes.

"Mature, very mature….are you ever going to act your age?"

"I don't feel a day over two hundred." he replied, batting his eyes innocently as Jason prepped the pitching machine. It was a rare evening of relaxation and family time and as much as she knew he loved doing what he did at the club, she was also glad he had unshackled himself from the place for a night. Sookie also figured Pam had a hand in helping convince him to do so as well, though Pam would only ever deny meddling in their lives in that way. Things were going well for their family, their friends and though in some ways they were like the typical American family, what with work and family functions, they were also far from average. And that much was and would always be, very apparent.

Her train of sentimental thoughts was derailed by a thunderous crack and she was knocked aside by her brother as splinters of what remained of the bad came flying towards her. Clearly, her Viking had a decent swing, a understatement as her brother looked at the remains of the bat on the ground.

"Maybe aluminum is the better way to go…." he mused as he surveyed what remained of the wooden bat. "A little more gentle next time, I would like to have at least one of my bats to bring home and even I doubt that the metal bats may survive the likes of you. Maybe a little more…gentle?"

"I may not be all too savvy about sports but I didn't think gentleness went with baseball. Besides I can certainly afford to get you new bats…..though I suppose there is some sentimental value to them….."

"This one was hand carved by our grandfather so this one is a no no for you, after that demonstration….." Jason said as he nodded to the few bats that he could stand to lose. "I wasn't thinking about how strong you are, that there may be…casualties."

There was some laughter between the family members before a wave of something came over her and she stumbled. Assisted by her loved ones, Sookie looked panicked, stricken.

"What…..what is it?" Jason asked as he helped her to a metal bench.

"Your niece….in Faery…something is terribly wrong….you felt it too?" she glanced at her Viking who nodded but looked a little confused. "You didn't feel lit like I did….the connection to Faery….even with faerie blood in you, you don't have that same connection….I have to get there now. Something is terribly wrong."

Chapter 2

"Aurora is strong and she would have called for help if it was needed, right?" Jason frowned, his own concern starting to take hold. He knew that even with his niece being a hybrid like Sookie was, there were always forces out there that could give her a run for her money.

"I have to go there and see….I can't sit here and worry and I know you want to go but if its daylight there, you can only handle a couple hours. Tops." Sookie said as she looked up at Eric, who looked stoic as always cut she felt his worry and the fear he had for their daughter, who had taken the throne of Faery not too long ago. She had been thriving and ruled as fairly and as wisely as the late Niall had done but no society was ever perfect and she had put out several fires. However, it seemed that perhaps now, there was a inferno.

"I am coming with you." he said. "don't worry about me, there is plenty of places I could spend the day, right? Maybe you could find something to help keep me out in the sun permanently. If only long enough to help her."

"I want to go too. Even if the gene skipped me, its kind of part of me too." Jason said as he picked up a bat, looking eager for something, someone to swing it at. But as always, he also carried his pistol at his hip and checked to make certain it was secure in its holster, even going so far as to check the amount of ammo he had. He could tell how upset his sister was and could tell there was a sickness about her. "Something's not right here, you don't get sick anymore, not with your vamp blood…being mixed and whatever."

"Whatever?" a increasingly angry Viking said as he glared at his kin.

"I didn't mean it in a put down kind of way…I just….look, we don't have time for this crap. Something is wrong and its affecting her too. Both of you. In different ways but-" he was stopped as they were vanished from the field and reappeared in a place that was once beautiful beyond belief. A place that was almost like a dreamscape. Where crystal garland hung draped to the trees. But now, it looked little more than the average war zone and the sun was concealed by a thick blanket of clouds. Making it look almost as gloomy as night. Buildings were crumbling and there was barely a lick of color anywhere. Here and there there were some faeries mingling, looking panicked, all injured and looking as if they weren't going to live long.

"Looks like a war zone." Jason said as he crouched beside a faerie too far gone ton help and he watched helplessly as she melted into silvery, sparkly ashes. Sookie approached another faerie who she was able to heal with her magic. "What happened? Who caused this?"

The faerie woman gave her a sad smile. "I wish I hadn't had the luck to tell you what I know, what I saw. But she was so brave and she was only thinking of sparing her loved ones and those she was sworn to protect here in Faery. She died a brave warrior and though she didn't win entirely, she knew she would at least save her family from the heartache unleashed by her enemy, who she killed only by her self sacrifice."

There was a long silence, no one knew exactly what to say. And then the worst sound that he had heard fell upon wither of the men's ears. The sound of their loved one crying. Sobbing uncontrollably, she turned to her brother who was closest to her and as Jason returned the tight embrace, he looked over her head to his brother in law who looked murderous, tough there was a clear undertone of grief there as well.

"What. Happened?" the Viking demanded of the wounded faerie.

"There was a plot….a plot to use a spell to expand Faery to the other world-yours-which would have destroyed so much and put a end to those who dwell in the dark…as well as any other being that wasn't pure faerie." the wounded faerie said with a deep breath. "Your daughter had no choice against this devastating magic. She had to unleash the Purge. A one time magic that could cleanse Faery once and for all of all things dark and dangerous but would come at a cost. At a cost to the landscape and the one casting it. The wave of magic was something we were all warned about and we all agreed it was needed to be done. Unfortunately some of us were caught in the path of the magic and many didn't survive….and as I pass on here and now, I regret nothing and am proud of your daughters actions. We all wanted to help protect the other realm, the innocents there and as a rule, faeries are pledged to do what is needed to spare any and all innocents, regardless of who and what they are."

"I felt sick….because she….the connection we had….it broke with her death." Sookie said as the faerie passed on before their eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED