Chapter 1
The hotel was in the most perfect area. Close to the beach and close to the only theme park that Aurora had any interest in traveling to. And wanting to do all she could with Aurora before the next growth spurt hit and thus changed the child, who appeared five at present time, to a older teenager, Sookie was all too willing to oblige. Which was what had brought them to Disney World. Though it had only been Sookie and Aurora who had made the flight from Louisiana to Orlando, they had not been alone. For Pam had been given the task to ensure they a body guard was sent along with them for the trip to the airport straight through the time that night fell this evening. By that time, the missing piece of their immediate family would have fallen into place and they could begin to enjoy the next week of rest, relaxation and their utter spoiling of what they both knew would be the only child they would ever have.
That he had, albeit grudgingly agreed on the trip to Disney World, Sookie had been relieved. And amused when she overheard Aurora going on and on to Eric about all the princesses that would be out and about at the park, that they could ride the spinning tea cups. For his daughter, of course, he would do anything but the level of discomfort he showed when he locked looks over Aurora's head with Sookie…well, it certainly humanized him. More so than anything, she had ever seen, strangely enough. "Come on," Sookie had said in bed the night that it was decided that arrangements would be made for the trip. "You may actually enjoy yourself, they do fireworks at night and parades and you can go on the rides." at this last example, Sookie had seen a look of distaste cross his face. "You never have fun….and I don't mean the killing or glamouring or whatever else you Vikings thought was fun. Or whatever you came to think was fun in your long life. I mean going on carnival rides and playing games-"
"Those rigged games that cost a arm and a leg to win a ten cent prize?" he quipped, still looking rather skeptical. "I don't suppose there is any other place we could go that she would enjoy?"
"She is as stubborn as someone else I know and besides, you may enjoy yourself for all you know. Trying new things, haven't you spent your life doing just that? And besides, you know if you were to pass on this trip, she would be pretty pissed off at you."
"Oh there is no question I am going on this….vacation…" Eric began, knowing it was futile to argue with his kin. "Very well."
And it was so that the next day the trip had been booked. It had happened that Eric had some last minute things to take care of at the bar and so he would meet them at the hotel soon after nightfall. He and Pam had painstakingly searched out a bodyguard to escort Sookie and Aurora from the moment they were at the airport until the moment Eric was able to join them at the hotel. Now, safely at the hotel, Aurora was helping Sookie unpack all of their luggage, putting all of their clothes in the closet on hangers while Aurora went to her small room that was attached off the main suite. A suitcase full of books and toys, she was soon at play as Sookie finished the unpacking of hers and Eric's belongings, hers being the more arduous of the luggage. There was a small kitchenette in the hotel-a hotel that Eric had selected for its luxury. Considering their destination, Sookie was glad to give him that much of a concession as she knew this was a trip that was strange to say the least for him. But that he would also go in for no other. Joining her on the large bed in the bedroom, Aurora snuggled with her mom as a cartoon was found in the program listings. The two laughed together at the antics of Olaf the snowman as they relaxed after the long flight. Their bodyguard had checked in moments ago and had returned to his post outside the suite door and thus far, Evan had proven himself a loyal and trustworthy protector thus far, though Sookie had sensed that quite a lot of glamouring had gone into ensuring he was no traitor or a rat in disguise. Heaven only knew that they had been duped by duplicitous people in the past and were not willing to deal with yet another one. Not for nothing, Sookie had said when the bodyguard had been hired, but neither she nor Aurora were helpless, not being half faerie and half vamp. But she was still grateful and accepting of the added protection. Still, she knew there could only be one person who could truly fill that job and he was yet to text her, let alone arrive at the hotel. As the ending credits to Frozen rolled, Sookie noticed that the little one had fallen asleep, tired out from singing along with Elsa and the rest of the Arendelle crew. Scooping her up carefully, she carried her into the smaller bedroom and kept the door open so as to keep a eye on her. A thought came across Sookie's mind and she rushed back into Auroras room and double checked the locks on the windows. They would be difficult if not impossible for a typical child to open or undo but Aurora was no typical child. Using her own magic, Sookie enchanted the lock, strengthening the hold. Not that she worried about Aurora playing with it, but about others that may try. Pulling the blinds down and the curtains shut, she felt treasonably more at peace. It was through the minuscule crack between the curtains she saw a blur fast approaching in the slowly darkening sky. As it swiftly moved towards this window, approaching the balcony to the spacious multi-roomed suite, Instinct kicked in Sookie's fangs dropped down, her hands alight with her magic. And it was then that the cloaked figure was upon her as she opened the balcony door, ready to blast the intruder to next week.
To Be Continued