Hey everyone!
This little one shot was inspired by the song Iron, by Woordkid. It had actually been spinning through my mind for some time and I just had to get it out. It's unlike most of what I've ever written and I hope you all like it. I can't wait to see what you all think. Of all my entries I think this is the one I'm most proud of and I'm particularly anxious to see what you all think.
Please, listen to the song while reading, since it kept me really inspired while writing. I had it on repeat, for a few days... enough to exhasperate the husband.
Big thanks go to Girl of Chaos and Kshep57 for helping me clean this up. I love you, ladies!
Update: Also, since I've gotten a few messages with book references - I've stopped reading the books after Dead in the Family. I've barely heard about what happens next. I'll probably read them if Charlain decides to turn Sookie in the last one or they get a happy ever after.
Please, also check my other entries - I Want You To Want Me and Red Blooded Woman. Reviews are much appreciated! xoxo
Deep in the ocean, dead and cast away
Where innocence is burned, in flames
A million mile from home, I'm walking ahead
I'm frozen to the bones, I am...
A soldier on my own, I don't know the way
I'm riding up the heights of shame
I'm waiting for the call, the hand on the chest
I'm ready for the fight, and fate
The sound of iron shocks is stuck in my head,
The thunder of the drums dictates
The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead's
The rising of the horns, ahead
From the dawn of time to the end of days
I will have to run, away
I want to feel the pain and the bitter taste
Of the blood on my lips, again
(Woodkid – Iron)
He walked at human speed, the target in his sight. He could feel her, hidden somewhere in the depths of the mansion built in the heart of the mountains and concealed by snow.
Every wince and every shiver that went through Sookie's body reverberated into Eric's. He didn't flinch; he didn't show that her pain was his pain. The thought of closing off their bond passed through his mind, but he pushed it away. He knew blocking her out of their bond was the best idea to clear his mind, to not be distracted by the pain they were putting her through.
But he couldn't do it. Instead of letting her crippling pain mentally wound him, he used it to gain strength. Every time they hurt her, he was reminded why he was there and what he had to do.
He was a million miles from home, and yet the heavy snow reminded him of his birthplace, of his friends and family and the hard winters he lived through as a child. He was reminded of the people he'd buried at sea and, for the first time in what felt like forever, he was cold. The sensation went straight through his flesh and embedded itself deep in his bones. He swore to himself Sookie wouldn't die in that retched house that night.
Eric blamed himself for what had happened, and there was no one who could convince him otherwise. It was his fault and his fault only that Sookie had been taken.
The weres had taken her by force. He had been spared only because the plan didn't include his immediate death. The fact that his Bonded had kicked and screamed like a madwoman also helped. The only thing they managed to do was chain him with silver, restraining him on the spot.
He'd woken up from his day slumber to see they'd taken her, to feel her anger and his pain and to hear her voice for one last time before everything went black. "Eric, follow your heart," she shouted as she was being carried out of the house.
He allowed himself to fall back into a shallow slumber, let darkness take him back. She was right; he had to plan a way to get her back, to follow his heart until he found her.
Fighting them immediately was of no use, even though he could do nothing because of the chains. He was weak and vulnerable during the day and he'd burn to a crisp in a matter of seconds, since their bedroom was the only light tight room in the house. He would find her and then everyone who had a hand in this would be sorry for what they'd done.
Every step that led to this situation was his fault. Everything. He blamed himself for not thinking of Markus. He blamed himself; he only saw what was in front of him and that he'd taken advantage when the moment presented itself and he had forgotten to consider every possible reaction to his actions. The second he'd taken Victor Madden's head had been gratifying and a relief, not to mention it had been done with Felipe's discreet acceptance. The King of Nevada felt that Victor's side plans had started to become too obvious and he wanted him out. What Eric should have considered before sending him to his true death, well away from Sookie, was who Victor's Maker was.
Markus was not a vampire you would voluntarily mess with, even Eric knew that; he'd heard it many times. He was fearless and had a twisted sense of humor. He was old, older than Eric, and he was also powerful. To compensate for the final death of his only child, the Kind of Wyoming chose to take away Eric's most prized possession - Sookie. The fact that Markus knew enough of his relationship with Sookie, to take her instead of Pam, told him he had done something wrong, he had ignored a spy, a vigil eye somewhere.
Sookie was being tortured for his benefit, he knew. In the two days that had passed, she could have been dead, but Markus wouldn't allow that. He wanted Eric to suffer indefinitely; he wanted him to come after Sookie so he could have his full revenge, to kill him after he was forced to watch his bonded die.
Markus was lost in his old ways and cared nothing for the way vampires acted nowadays, attentive of the humans around them. This is why his home was in the heart of the mountains, away from civilization and prying eyes.
Snow covered Eric's naked chest and his black pants were wet from the flakes. The strap of his scabbard crossed his torso, his sword ready at his back. His blond hair flowed around his face as the wind blew even more snow towards him. The skies were completely covered with silver clouds and the only light came from the mansion in front of him.
He swore to himself that Sookie would live no matter what; he'd save her life at the cost of his own if necessary. Every one of the vampires and weres behind him knew they had to get Sookie out and away, especially if he met his final death. She had to live on, regardless of what happened to him.
He felt a hot line cross his arm and he knew a knife had been used against his bonded's skin. His anger flared up, and he sent her strength. She already knew he was near and, although she was desperate, she was still holding onto her patience. Sookie knew him well enough to realize he had a plan, a well thought plan to get her out and make everything right again.
Pam was behind him, to his right, as usual. Russell Edgington was at his left, along with Bartlett, his beloved spouse. Thalia, Indira and another ten vampires were covering their backs, plus the entire Long Tooth were pack and Sam.
He didn't ask for any of their help, planning to go alone, but when word got out about Sookie's abduction, they came, one by one, and offered their assistance. Sookie had affected everyone's lives and they loved her. Anyone that hurt her, hurt them.
Eric halted his advance when he got closer to the gates. He stopped then, measuring, calculating and predicting their sorts. There were sixteen vampires on his side of the battlefield, himself included, about the same number of wolves, a few panthers and the Shifter.
A hundred feet in front of them were 30 vampires, some Eric could recognize and some he couldn't.
They could easily take them. The problem was how many more were inside. How many of them were there with Sookie, torturing her just for fun?
Anticipation flooded his blood and the muscles in his back arched and flexed as his right hand went for the shaft of his sword. The Viking's blade yearned for blood as much as he did. Eric wanted them dead, to feel their bodies crumble at the end of his weapon, as its iron made way through their skin and flesh and bones.
A chorus of drawn swords echoed behind him just as his blood froze in his veins. His stomach lurched as if a heavy punch landed there and his fangs appeared as he let out a low hiss.
Eric held his sword with both hands, more out of habit than need, and the vampires in his team took a battle stance, ready to attack. The weres behind him growled in response, fighting to refrain from attacking as the animal inside tried to take over.
An ancient battle cry echoed on the plain atop the mountains and everything turned into a blur. Vampires and weres alike charged forth and the sound of clashing weapons filled the night. The blood of weres stained the snow along with puddles of ash and goo. The weakest warriors lost their lives within the first few second, two-natured and vampire alike.
Dances of death started, as the ones left standing circled one another. Eric's chest was covered in blood sprays from a were that had died nearby, and his sword had already cut through three vampires, turning them to grey ash and dark red splotches on the pristine snow.
Now he faced a dark haired vampire that he hadn't seen earlier. Hidden in the shadows, as usual, had been none other than Bill Compton. The sneer on his face expressed all the hate and disgust he felt for the Viking in front of him.
What he hoped to accomplish by fighting for Markus, Eric could easily see. He was, however, doubtful Sookie would be left alive if he was defeated. More so, she would rather kill herself than return to Compton after so many years. Eric realized then that he had been the one to reveal the depth of his connection with Sookie. He smirked, filled with the thrill of finally ending Compton.
They danced around each other in the snow, their swords clashing loudly. Eric growled low in his chest as he felt a deep pain in his thigh. Taunting the jealous prick in front of him would have been fun, but he needed to reach Sookie. Her life force was dimming by the minute and her fear filled the bond. He took another two swings at Bill, visualizing his opponent's moves like a chess player would and finally laid a third blow that separated his head from his torso.
Pam was face to face with two attackers and she was ready to wipe the smug looks off their faces. They thought she was weak, they thought she couldn't hold her own, but they didn't know everything she had learned about fighting had been from a thousand year old warrior. One who knew when to make a move and when to retreat, one who knew how to play any hand he was given in order to win. One blade came towards her as her second opponent tried to move behind her. As the sword moved towards her, she ducked, slashing her own weapon at her attacker's legs, cutting them clean off. With a twirl she beheaded the vampire behind her before he could make another move.
She wanted to move on and let the vampire,whose legs she'd severed, go, but she thought better of it. Eric always taught her to never leave lose ends. Pam's sword sunk into his neck and his body turned to ash as his magic died off.
She noticed Eric and his opponent just as her Maker's sword cut off Compton's head. He was by his side in a second, unfazed, and with an envious look on her beautiful face. She'd always wanted to be the one to end the prick. Eric looked around and noticed most of his little army was still alive, while none of Markus' had survived.
He let his sword hang at his side and led the way through the gates.
Twenty five of his warriors were still at his side as he advanced towards the main building. He could feel she was there, a few stories below them. She was still hanging on, resisting whatever her kidnappers inflicted on her.
His arms rose again and he went back to back with Pam as more vampires attacked as soon as they entered inside the opulent mansion. He slashed the air as his opponent avoided the blow and then finally managed to cut through the vampire's left arm. More vampires filled the hall as the tip of his sword pierced his attacker's chest and split him open.
A few more puddles had formed on the marble in the entryway. Eric turned towards the vampires that were descending the stairs. They held no weapons and their demeanor wasn't aggressive.
He didn't attack, but his stance didn't loosen.
A tall vampire came forth. He was maybe as old as Eric considering the energy he emanated. His hair was dark and cut short, and his eyes were wise. He held a soft but firm tone as he spoke.
"We do not wish to fight you. Markus has gone mad after his child's death. The bond you share with your pledged one is sacred in our eyes and Markus' act is punishable by our laws. We renounce the loyalty we vowed him," he explained and waited for Eric's response.
The Viking merely nodded and in a whirl, the twenty vampires passed them on their way outside the building. The dark haired vampire approached Eric and whispered the location where Sookie was kept and the way to get there.
If letting them go would turn up to be a mistake, Eric was ready to face the consequences. However, he doubted it was going to happen.
A flash of pain ran through the left side of Eric's neck and his hand went there involuntarily. The second he realized what that pain meant he was on the move again. With a kick of his leg the door to the room where his bonded was kept flew open.
Sookie's naked body lay on the ground, limp and bloody. There were cuts and stabs all over her, and blood was dripping everywhere on the floor. She was still alive, but life was slipping rapidly through her fingers.
Markus' fangs were out and the traces of what he'd done were evident. His hand grabbed his own sword and he charged for Eric. Iron met iron and the sound reverberated in the dungeon. The rage Eric felt filled the bonds he had, both with Sookie and with Pam.
Pamela's rational side told her to stand still as she watched her Maker and that fucker. Her heart however, told her to step in and help Eric finish this once and for all. It pained her to see Sookie like that. She'd grown to care for her and they'd become best friends in the years that passed.
When Markus' sword sliced Eric's skin her decision was made. She made a move towards them, but a hand on her arm stopped her advance.
"No, my dear. It's his battle. Watch," Russell's honey-like voice said. Pam's attention shifted to the two vampires in front of her. Eric had fought his way until he was positioned in front of Sookie, making sure she wouldn't be caught in the middle of their fight again.
Eric's left hand went to the cut Markus' blade had made into his flesh. At that moment, the ancient vampire charged once more, hoping to end this, to end the one who'd killed his only child, his beloved Victor.
Pain did not deter Eric. He reveled in it. He felt like he was alive, like everything was real. Eric countered Markus' blow, pushing his hand away, before swinging his sword again and slicing through both flesh and bone. A roar escaped the vampires' throat as his arm dropped to the floor and he backed away from Eric, slowly putting himself into a corner as the Viking advanced slowly, almost predatory.
A smug smile tugged at his lips as he saw horror filling his opponent's features. For all the fame he had, for all the frightening words some said about him, Markus was a weak adversary; a mad-ridden vampire pushed to his limits by the loss of his only progeny. Despite the urge to keep him alive, to torture him as he'd done Sookie, Eric's only wish was to end it all.
With a last swing of his sword, Markus was history.
His eyes met Pamela's and she knew what she had to do. Turning around, she urged everyone to go outside and leave him alone with Sookie.
In an instant he was by her side, cradling her head in his hands. She was naked, but he couldn't smell the other vampire's scent on her. Blood still trickled through the wounds on her arms and legs and, by the purple coloring of her stomach, he knew the blow he'd felt earlier had damaged her internally. The bite marks on her neck looked terrible and he could tell she had little blood left in her.
He couldn't heal her without turning her. He couldn't heal her, and he wanted to shout and scream. She was nearly drained, weak with the blood loss, and any intervention on his part would mean she'd become a vampire.
She'd never said she wanted to be turned, never said she wanted to be his for many lifetimes, she'd always danced around the topic. Now, looking into the eyes of the man she loved, Sookie thought it was all silly.
"Help me," she barely whispered.
"Lover, you're wounded badly. If I give you my blood now..." Eric trailed off. He wanted to save her, he was not ready to let her go, but he wouldn't change her against her will. He couldn't live with himself if she hated him.
A small smile graced her lips and her hand weakly reached out for him.
"Drink and let me drink," she said softly, trying to send her acceptance and love through the bond.
He didn't hesitate. He pulled her wrist to his mouth and softly bit into her, drinking the last of her blood. He felt her slipping away, slowly dying in his arms. He slashed his own wrist on the blade at his side and let the blood pool down her throat. Once. Twice. Three times, until he felt it was enough. Her wounds were all sealed, her flesh anew.
Eric gathered her in his arms and covered her with a cloth he found on the floor. As he stepped out of the building he looked into the skies and allowed himself to relax. It was a new beginning.
Under the watchful eyes of his allies he lifted himself into the air, gave them a deep nod and took off into the night. He had to find a safe place to wait for Sookie's rising.