Catch and Release

EPOV:

I waited patiently on the highest branch of the highest tree in the forest. From the trees position, I could see the small clearing ahead perfectly. Nothing would obstruct my view when she came. I inhaled sharply, smelling the magic in the air. I knew she would be coming tonight. It had been nearly three months since her last appearance in these woods. She came back every three months, for three nights, and then left for Fae again. She didn't know that I knew her schedule so well. She didn't know that I have been hunting her for nearly a year.

The first time that I saw her was on a night similar to this. It was October, so the air was cool and crisp. I could easily smell the magic in the air that night, and I began searching for its source. As I ran through the forest that stretched throughout the small town of Bon Temps, the smell and energy of magic grew stronger. It wasn't until I reached this very clearing that found the source of this magic.

It was a Fae portal.

I stopped and stared in amazement at the golden portal that was slowly opening. It had been nearly five centuries since I had last seen and tasted a fairy. Their blood was delicious. It tasted like freedom, and they smelled of home. Their smell reminded me of my home. To me, they smelled of the sea, a fire, and honey. Faeries seemed to have that effect on vampires. They smelled and tasted like everything a vampire desired in life, or wish they were still able to have. A fairies smell is different to every vampire; and they are always irresistible.

I quickly climbed up a nearby tree and waited patiently for the fairy to enter into this realm fully. I could barely contain my excitement. I wasn't sure if I wanted to drain the fairy dry or only weaken it to keep it as a pet. I decided to wait until I saw what the fairy looked like to decide. I was not one to keep an ugly pet.

The portal opened completely and a burst of light shot out of the opening. My fangs dropped and I shielded my face and eyes from the light. I was no longer used to such brightness or heat. It had been to many years since I had seen such a bright light.

I looked back once the light died away and saw a young woman step out of the portal. Her hair was blonde, the same shade as mine, and she wore a long gown that glittered and flowed around her. Thanks to my keen eyesight, I could see her large blue eyes, tan skin, and full lips, perfectly. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever encountered in my thousand years of existence. I watched with a grin as she glanced around the clearing nervously, searching for any threats. I heard her heart beating quickly and smelled her fear and blood.

She was exquisite.

I watched her, but carefully tried to keep myself from view. I did not want to catch her yet. I first wanted to see what she was doing there. Why would a fairy come to this realm and endanger herself? Perhaps she was to meet someone here? I decided to wait and find out if she had any connections to this realm. If so, I would use them to lure her to me. This fairy was certainly one I wanted to keep.

I watched as she continued to look around. Her brow furrowed in confusion and she began looking up towards the tree that I was sitting in. I frowned and slowly shifted further back to make sure that she could not see me. She stared in the direction I was in for a few moments longer, then looked away and began walking out of the woods. I slowly flew from the tree branch and followed her. I made sure to keep a small distance so she would not suspect any threats.

While I followed her, I saw her, more than once, turn back around to the direction she came from and look around. Can she sense me?

I followed her closely for nearly fifteen minutes. She enchanted me. Everything about her was perfect, and I wanted nothing more than to obtain her. Her hair, her eyes, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, the way she walked… everything about her amazed me and I wanted to see more. I wanted to know more about her. While I watched her, I could not recall any other fairy who had this effect on me before. There was something different about this girl.

I watched, curiously, as she walked out of the woods and toward an old farmhouse that sat alone on a large plot of land. The house was run down and looked to be nearly two hundred years old. I watched as the young fairy walked faster toward the house, and then break out into a sprint towards it, as if the house was a precious treasure that she could not wait to have.

She opened the door and gracefully stepped into the home. As I flew closer to the home, I heard laughter and talking. I flew over to the house and landed gracefully next to the window where the voices were coming from. Standing in the shadows, I watched closely as the little fairy kneeled in front of an old woman and spoke softly to her. I could see the fairy more closely now, and she truly was gorgeous. Her eyes sparkled with laughter and tears and she spoke kindly to the old woman.

I watched them together for hours until I looked at my watch and saw that it was only an hour until sunrise. I cursed softly under my breath and gazed longingly at the fairy once more, before taking off into the night to find shelter.

She was there the next night with the old woman, and a young man. I watched her again, and then I watched her as she went to bed and slept. She looked so peaceful when she slept.

I was delayed from returning to her after sunset the following night due to my business as Area Sheriff in the city of Shreveport. By the time I arrived to the old house, the fairy was long gone. I cursed and was angry with myself for my stupidity. I should have taken the fairy when I had the chance instead of merely watching and fantasizing about her.

I went to the same spot in the clearing and to the old house many nights a week in hopes that she would appear again, but with no luck. My luck changed though three months after I first spotted her. I smelled the magic again while on my way to the area, and saw her come out of the portal. I watched her again, still making no move to obtain her. I do not know why, but the idea of taking her during the nights that I saw her disturbed me. I wanted to watch her more. I wanted to learn about her more, and her connection to the old woman; who, I had learned, was named Adele Stackhouse.

For the past year, on the nights that she was not on this realm, I thought much of her. No other woman who offered herself to me was as beautiful as the fairy. No other woman smelled as delicious, or fascinated me as much. I could only think of the fairy. I was obsessed, and yet I found myself disturbed with the idea of taking her. I came to the realization that she weakened me, and I needed to put an end to this obsession soon. A vampire can have no weaknesses. It will only bring pain, or the true death. I decided that I would no longer watch her. Even though I knew I didn't want to, I was going to take her when she returned and keep her. All I knew was that I needed her by my side. I had to have her. She was like a drug to me. I told myself that she would learn to like me, in time, and that I would be good for her. I would give her anything she desired.

So, here I am. Waiting patiently, watching closely, for the beautiful fairy who somehow stole my cold, still heart without even realizing it. I knew that my actions were foolish, and yet I couldn't bear to think of not seeing her again, or of not having her. I wanted her, and yet a part of me hated her for making me so weak.

She came out of the portal again, looking more beautiful than ever. I watched her from my normal spot in the trees, and inhaled her scent. She smelled different from other fairies. Still sweet, but it was not as overpowering. I was going to enjoy having her as my pet.

I flew over her as she ran through the woods towards the old woman's house. I noticed how toned her legs were, and defined her arms were. She had the body of a female warrior, and the Viking in me growled in approval. I flew a little closer to her to get a better look at my new pet. Suddenly, she stopped running, and began looking around. Her breath was ragged, and her heart pumped furiously. I licked my lips in anticipation as I watched her hungrily. As I was wondering what made her stop, she turned back around, but instead of running, she began to walk at a steady, even pace. I flew after her, keeping my eyes on only her, making sure nothing crossed her path.

While I was watching her, I paid no attention to what was in front of me and hit a few branches on a tree. The sound startled both of us, and she gasped, her eyes shooting up to where I was. We made eye contact and we both were still for a moment, waiting for the next move. I, being a man who enjoys taking the initiative, dove toward her and flew as fast as I could to her. I heard her scream at my action and watched as she teleported away. I landed hard on the very spot she was just standing and growled. I was never usually so reckless with my hunting; but this creature seemed to enchant me and made me forget my surroundings.

Perhaps it wouldn't be wise to keep her.

I lifted my head to the air and sniffed, trying to find her scent. I began walking down the small path I knew she always took and finally caught her scent. She had not yet left the woods. She was hiding. I grinned, feeling excited for the hunt. Before I couldn't stand the thought of taking her, of harming her and tainting her innocence. But now I wanted to find her. The evening was turning out to be quite a bit of fun for me.

I sniffed the air more, and smelled that she was very, very close to me; but I couldn't find where. I nearly growled in frustration until I heard a soft rustle of leaves above me. I looked up and saw the little fairy on a branch in the trees. She gasped softly when she realized that I had spotted her, and I smiled. My fangs ran down in anticipation. I saw her disappear, but she didn't go far, for I still smelled her very well. She must be weakening herself.

I ran quickly and saw her running quickly to the edge of the forest, most likely trying to go to the old woman's house. I easily caught her and pulled her back to my chest, attempting to still her jerking movements. She smelled so good to me, but I could smell that she was not a full-blooded fairy. It made being this close to her much easier.

"Let me go!" She yelled. I chuckled at her attempts to harm me.

"Calm down, little one. I'm not going to harm you."

"I know what you are! I knew I sensed you before! Get off of me!"

I gently held both of her wrists in my hand and spun her around to face me. Her face was flushed with anger and she was panting raggedly. Her hair was a mess from running from and fighting me, and she had a scowl on her face… but she was so beautiful to me.

"How did you know I was here? And if you've known I have been here, why didn't you fight me?" I asked.

The fairy huffed and rolled her eyes, "It's none of your business how I knew. And after you left me alone one night, I just assumed that you didn't care that I was here… Obviously, I was very wrong."

"And very naïve. You really don't know the effects fairies have on vampires do you?"

The fairy shrugged and averted her eyes to the ground in shame. I shook my head with a smile on my face. "I have been watching you for a year, and I must say, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."

Her eyes shot up to mine and I saw a mix of lust and anger in them, "If you have been watching me that long, then why didn't you take me a year ago?"

I shrugged, not knowing what to say, mostly because I couldn't explain why even to myself. "I suppose it is because I wanted to somewhat understand you first. I also did not like the idea of harming you."

Shock was evident on her face, "You mean a vampire actually cared about another creature? I didn't think that was possible."

"Shhh, it'll be our secret," I told her with a wink. I watched as she tried to hide her smile. We were silent for a few moments, just looking at each other. She looked at me as if she was just as mesmerized by me as I was by her.

"Are you going to let me go?" She asked softly.

"No… never…" I whispered softly. She gasped and tried once again to pull her hands out of my grasp. I held on tighter and moved closer to her, until our bodies were touching and I would see every shade of blue in her eyes. "I want you to stay with me and be mine."

She shook her head, not breaking eye contact with me, "I can't. It's forbidden for me to be with a vampire."

I smirked at her and asked, "So if it wasn't forbidden, you would be mine then?" I watched in fascination as a rosy blush crept across her skin. The blush made her smell even better and I licked my lips. I wanted to taste her so badly, but I wanted her to be willing.

"I am Sookie Brigant, granddaughter of Prince Niall Brigant of the sky fairies. People will know that I am missing and they will look for me. I doubt you want to a war over this lust you feel for me. Please, do all vampires and fairies a favor and let me go." She pleaded and looked distraught, while I smiled and my fangs ran down once more in excitement. The sight of my fangs made her jump back from me in fear.

"You mean to tell me I have captured a fairy princess? Oh yes, I shall not be letting you go."

I watched as the fairy-no, Sookie-stare at me in shock, "You don't care that there will be war over this?"

I shrugged, "We defeated them once, we can do it again."

Anger blazed in her blue eyes and I felt her tremble, "Damn you!" I watched in fascination as she began to glow and felt her push her hands against my torso. Before I could react, I was blasted with a powerful energy away from her and into the trunk of a tree twenty-five feet away from her. While the blow hurt and caught me off guard, it was not enough to seriously wound me. I looked up, feeling a mixture of anger and astonishment, as I looked at Sookie, who had now collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. I watched as she attempted to stand up and ran over to her, pinning her to the ground. I looked down at her and could see how the energy she used to blast me drained her very much, so I took comfort in knowing that she would have a difficult time escaping me now.

"That wasn't very nice, my princess," I hissed at her. She growled in anger and attempted, once again, to release my grip. "You might as well stop trying, because I will not be letting you go."

"Please! Please release me…" She begged softly. I saw tears gather in her eyes and sighed. Damn this woman for affecting me so.

"I will make you a deal. I will let you go, and you can run and hide from me, but if I find you, and you can not stop me from taking you, I will not give you another chance to run."

"That's not fair! You have the upper hand in this!"

I shrugged and smiled, "So you admit defeat?"

She scowled at me, "Never."

I leaned my head closer to her, until our lips were barely touching. "Two rules, though. You can not hide in a human home, and you can not return to the portal."

"But how am I supposed to win?"

"By fighting me, of course."

"But-"

"Now, now, princess, I am being very generous. I am giving you the opportunity to flee."

"This is just a catch and release game to you! We both know you are going to find me again!"

"Do we? I think I am taking a chance here… are you?" I asked with a smile. She was right, of course. I knew I would find her, but I was curious to see what else my little fairy could do.

"Fine!" she growled. I slowly stood up and offered her my hand to help her. When she refused to accept my hand and stood up on her own, I smiled.

"One-"

"Wait! You have rules too…. No biting." I frowned, "Fine, anything else?"

"Um… no, that's all I can think of."

"Excellent. You have until three-"

"A hundred!"

"Ten."

"Fifty?"

I sighed, "You have until twenty to hide. You can go anywhere within a ten mile radius."

"Take one last look, Vampire. This is the last time you'll see me," she told me smugly.

I laughed, "We'll see, little one. It is not very often that I become attached to something. I am not one to easily let something go. Now, on the count of twenty, I will come for you. One…"

She 'popped' away before I got to two. I counted to twenty, like I said I would, and ran off into a sprint towards her, following her scent. Every time I got close to her, she vanished again. It was as if she heard I was coming. I tried to remember if Faeries had excellent hearing or eyesight, but I was not sure.

For over an hour, I get close to Sookie, even occasionally see her, and then she would "pop" away from me. I could sense that she was growing weaker as the night wore on, for she did not teleport far away from me.

I sensed her in another small clearing in the woods near a lake. I looked around, but could not find her anywhere, even though I knew for certain that she was there. A sighed in frustration and took off into the sky to hover above the area. I looked around the tops of the trees and behind the large trunks to see if I could find her hiding spot. My brow furrowed in confusion and I wondered if she teleported again, until I heard the water from the lake move and saw her emerge to the surface, gasping for air.

Her air was slicked back against her head and she looked around the area for me. She did not realize that I was far above her. I smiled, realizing that I had her. I dove toward her again, just as I had an hour before, and pushed up both back into the water. She was still for a moment, and I was worried that I had hurt her. It must have just been shock, though, for she was kicking and hitting me widely after a moment. With one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, I pulled her toward the surface once more. When we reached it, I did not gasp for air like she did, instead, I smiled and laughed. I had won.

"You bastard!" She yelled out, still trying to pry away from me.

I continued laughing, "I must say, lover, hiding here was clever. The water masked your scent very well. If you didn't have to come up for air, I would have not found you."

"You didn't play fair!" She wined, loudly. She had stopped struggling to cross her arms in front of her chest and scowl at me, her lower lip jutting out in an adorable pout. I could not resist, I leaned forward and nipped her lower lip, making her gasp. I kissed her fully on the mouth, my tongue sliding into her mouth, and filled the kiss with all of the lust, passion, and pride I felt for her. She responded eagerly, and we kissed for a few minutes. Her long legs wrapped around my waist under the water, pulling me closer. Sadly, she broke away from me.

"Okay, I get it! I'm irresistible, but that gives you no right to just take me," she exclaimed. Her lips were red and swollen from my kiss, and her cheeks were flushed from lust and excitement.

"Not according to the vampire laws, lover."

"Well I'm not a vampire!"

"But you have been claimed by one!"

"So!"

A let out a frustrated and unnecessary sigh, and began to swim us out of the water. I carried her back onto land, and gently set her down on the grass. She shivered from the cold, so I pulled off my jacket, and wrapped it around her. I sat down on the grass next to her.

"Do you like living with the Fae?" I asked, looking straight into her eyes, searching for the truth.

She averted her eyes and said, "Well of course I do, and they are my family. Everyone wants to be with their family."

I gently pulled her chin so that I could look into her eyes once more. I knew she was lying. "Then why do you come here so often and visit that old woman if you love it there so much?"

Tears filled her eyes, and she looked down again, her face red with what I assume was embarrassment. I gently wiped away her fallen tears, and turned her face towards mine once more. "Look at me," I commanded softly. I enjoy eye contact.

She sniffed and looked into my eyes for a moment, then sighed. "I was taken," she admitted softly. "My grandfather found out about my gift, and wanted me to live with him. I refused, so he forced me, saying it was for my safety. The old woman I come to visit is my grandmother. She raised me after my parents died when I was seven."

I nodded, "How old were you when you were taken?"

"Fifteen. I have lived in Fae for seven years. They don't know that I come back so often. But I miss my friends and family here. I have to come back."

We were silent for a moment, thinking over the conversation. I was the first to break the silence; "You said your grandfather took you because of your gift… What gift would that be?"

Sookie sat quietly for a moment, staring into my eyes. I could see the inner battle raging within her. She was wondering if she should tell me the truth. "I can read people's thoughts," she finally admitted.

I stiffened, "Can you read mine?"

"No," she said, staring at me in wonder, "No, I can't, and it's wonderful. You have no idea what a relief it is to hear silence after a lifetime of just, blah, blah, blah."

I smiled, "I can imagine the relief. Can you sense my mind at all?"

She shrugged, "Yes, but it's really that I just sense a void. I hear nothing else."

"Ah, so that's how you've been sensing me," I said, coming to the realization. I was very impressed with my little fairy princess.

"Yes," she said, and smiled a rather smug smile. I laughed and shook my head. I knew that she was different, that she was special.

We sat in silence for a moment. I listened to her heartbeat; it was a soothing rhythm. Her voice pulled me from my trance, "What's going to happen now?"

"Well, I would like to take you to my home. You will be mine, and will be very taken care of. I am the Sheriff of the Area, so I have much power and can protect you."

"So, I am being taken, yet again," she said softly, her gaze looking out over the water. I reached over and began playing with her hair. I was delighted when she responded to much touch by leaning into me.

"Think of it as coming home. You were taken from this world; from your family, and friends. Now you are returning. Only, this time, you will not be living in an old farmhouse, but with me in my home. You are allowed to visit your family. You may visit your friends as well, though I would like to know their names and where you will be to make sure you are safe. If you are mine, you will have everything you could ever desire. And you could live in the human world again, though, you would also have to live in the vampire one as well."

She nodded, and turned to look at me once more. She was silent for a moment, thinking through my offer. "So, while I will be considered yours, I would still have my freedom?"

"Yes. I do not wish for you to be unhappy, lover," I told her honestly.

"Why are you doing this?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. I cannot explain my feelings. When I first saw you, I knew that I had to have you by my side. Not to just taste you, or have sex with you, but to just exist with you. We have never met before, and yet I feel like we know each other and have for centuries.

Sookie nodded, "I'm glad it's not just me who feels it." My heart soared at the declaration. "I will stay here, if you promise to keep me safe from my grandfather, and allow me to see my friends and family. Also, I would like to live near Bon Temps, if that's not too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all, I have a home between Bon Temps and Shreveport. We will live there."

She smiled, and nodded. An awkward silence fell between us. I cleared my throat and said, "I will do my best to make you happy. You will not regret leaving Fae."

She nodded, and smiled. She slowly leaned forward and kissed my lips. We kissed for several minutes and I gently pulled away, and said in a husky voice, "Let's get you home." I had never been so excited to go home in my long existence.